Invest in Hamilton March 2025 Newsletter

Mar 31, 2025

It is hard to believe that the first quarter is already complete.

Though the economic and diplomatic relationship between Canada and the United States remains charged and uncertain, the Economic Development team has been tireless in keeping on top of emerging trends. Notably, the March issue of the newsletter highlights the first tranche of findings from the Tariff Impact Questionnaire that Economic Development conducted in partnership with the Flamborough, Hamilton, and Stoney Creek Chambers of Commerce.

Even as the team monitors global trade, March offered an opportunity to celebrate major international brands investing in Hamilton, with IKEA breaking ground on its Hamilton Customer Distribution Centre. Across the City, on the same day, the Hamilton Business Centre promoted more than 25 local businesses through the annual Success in the City event.

Despite the geopolitical shadow that hangs over the start of 2025, great things are still happening in Hamilton. On behalf of the Economic Development team, I invite you to learn more about our achievements. Please follow this link to connect with me or my team members.

In this issue

March’s Trade and Tariff Update
Hamilton says “Hej” to IKEA
Success in the City Returns
March’s Global Hamilton Round-Up
The Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council Attends Metropolis

March's Trade and Tariff Update

On February 18, 2025, the Economic Development Division, in partnership with the Flamborough, Hamilton, and Stoney Creek Chambers of Commerce, launched the Tariff Impact Questionnaire.

This tool was produced to create a local lens on tariff impacts that was not available through national or provincial survey tools. Analysis of this data is ongoing, and additional insights, including cross-tabulated analysis on the manufacturing sector, are expected in the weeks ahead.

More than 200 Hamilton businesses shared their insights with the Tariff Impact Questionnaire. Their willingness to collaborate provided invaluable context to the two Trade and Tariff Roundtables that Mayor Andrea Horwath hosted in March of this year.

The preliminary findings can be accessed through the trade and tariff hub and this email. Some of these findings include:

59% of respondents reported an extreme level of concern about U.S. tariffs and retaliatory tariffs
57% of respondents reported tariffs would have a significant impact on their business; only 5.6% anticipated no impact on their business
More than half of all respondents expected tariffs to reduce demand for their goods and services, increase operating costs, and create supply chain disruptions
30.3% of respondents expected to freeze hiring
32.0% of respondents expected to reduce the size of their workforce

Review the Hamilton Tariff Impact Questionnaire

People in hard hats participating in a groundbreaking ceremony with shovels, in front of excavators and an IKEA banner.

Hamilton Says "Hej" to IKEA

On March 18, 2025, IKEA Canada hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its future Customer Distribution Centre (CDC) and collection point at 212 Glover Road.

This impressive 483,285-square-foot facility is part of IKEA’s ambitious, Canada-wide investment of more than $400 million to enhance its retail experience and make shopping more affordable and convenient for Canadians.

Beyond creating a new place for Hamiltonians to pick up IKEA’s globally renowned products, the completed project aims to join a small but growing list of net-zero carbon buildings in Hamilton.

Hamilton Economic Development’s Goods Movement Strategy recognizes that decarbonization will be one of the major forces driving the goods movement sector over the next two decades. IKEA’s investment in the Red Hill Business Park reflects the forward-thinking development that will shape the goods movement sector as a key enabler of economic growth.

Moreover, plans to secure Net Zero and LEED Gold certifications and plans for the building to create more energy per year than it uses perfectly demonstrate how this project is aligned with Hamilton City Council’s priority of sustainable economic and ecological development.

A speaker addresses a seated audience in a banquet hall with chandeliers and a presentation screen showing slides.

Success in the City Returns

March 18th proved to be a busy day in Hamilton as the Hamilton Business Centre hosted the annual Success in the City event at Carmen’s Banquet Centre.

Success in the City is Hamilton’s premier networking event and trade show, with more than 25 booths on display. The event was highlighted by keynote speakers Emily O’Brien of Comeback Snacks and Lohifa Pogoson Acker of LODIDTHAT.

Success in the City embodies the fact that even amid challenging times, which extend to the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, trade disruptions, and geopolitical uncertainty, there remain many pathways to success for local entrepreneurs. The day celebrated these shared successes and provided an opportunity for emerging and existing entrepreneurs to network, share insights, and support each other’s success.

Many congratulations to the Hamilton Business Centre—the City of Hamilton’s Small Business Enterprise Centre—the vendors, and the speakers for an outstanding event.

Text on a blue background reads "Global Hamilton Round Up" in gradient blue, white, and outlined orange letters.

Economic Development’s Global Hamilton Office focuses on investment attraction and trade and supports the retention of international entrepreneurs and students calling Hamilton home. These efforts are part of a broad, collaborative knowledge-sharing network within the Hamilton business ecosystem. The Global Hamilton Round Up is an extension of that network and provides our readers with a snapshot of Canada-wide opportunities for export, trade missions, and talent.

Trade and Export Programs

PROGRAM: CanExport SMES | Offers up to $50,000 in funding to help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses break into international markets | Trade Commissioner Service
WEBINAR: April 15 | US Global Tariffs: Navigating the Impact with the Trade Commissioner | Innovation Factory
WEBINAR: April 18 | Diversify your global markets to hedge against risks | EDC
WEBINAR: April 24 | Planning for expansion in a changing global market | EDC
WEBINAR: May 8 | Entrepreneurs Going Global | Startup Canada
RESOURCE: Expand globally with Canada’s free trade agreements

Talent Insights

UPDATE: As of November 2024, international students can work off-campus up to 24 hours per week during academic terms and full-time during breaks.
RESOURCE: The Employer’s Roadmap for Hiring and Retaining Internationally Trained Workers

Trade Missions

April 24-26: Ontario ICT Export Business Mission to World IT Show Korea
May 5-8: Ontario Automotive Export Business Mission to International Automotive Industry
May 21-23: Automotive Export Business Mission to JSAE 2025
May 25-30: Ontario Multisector Mission With Team Canada to Thailand and Cambodia
May 28-20: Web Summit Vancouver 2025 and Do Business with Canada program
May 27-June 3: Ontario ICT Export Mission to Asia Tech x Singapore 2025
June 16-19: Aerospace Export Business Mission to the Paris Air Show 2025
June 16-20: Ontario Cleantech Export Business Mission to Africa Energy Forum 2025

Click below for more details on each of these Ontario missions and the full calendars:

Ontario Trade Mission Calendar

Canadian Trade Mission Calendar

Find a Trade Commissioner

Banner for Newcomer Day at City Hall on May 30, 12-6 PM, featuring logos for RBC, Hamilton, and Canadian immigration.

Learn more about Newcomer Day

Three people standing in a conference room with a large audience and presentation screens in the background.

The Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council Attends Metropolis

The HIPC team attended the annual Metropolis Conference in Toronto, which ran from March 13 to March 15.

Now more than ever, we are navigating shifts in political, economic, and public discourse around immigration and borders, which present their own challenges. This conference brought together community organizations, academics, and other industry experts to share and discuss best practices, research, and collaborative strategies for shaping Canada’s immigration and settlement system.

Our HIPC team had the opportunity to present in two collaborative sessions:

“Building Inclusion in Southern Ontario: Local Immigration Partnerships Take Action” focused on how we’re driving positive change by fostering inclusion and supporting newcomers through different projects and campaigns.

“Implementing an Evaluation Framework” provided lessons from Hamilton’s experience of implementing annual evaluation cycles.

By sharing our experiences, we hope to inspire others to take action in their communities!

You can find the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Would you like to know more?

The Hamilton Economic Development Division serves Hamilton by facilitating sustainable economic and ecological development, which is aligned with the 2022-2026 Council Priorities. This goal is met through the attraction of new businesses, the retention and expansion of existing businesses, and the catalyzing of the creation of quality employment opportunities.

Economic Development serves established businesses, start-ups, and entrepreneurs. For more information about starting or growing a business in Hamilton, please feel free to connect with staff through this link.