Swot Analysis: Keith Neighbourhood Action Hub

Strengths

Ability to move goods easilyWith its location on the port, proximity to railways and closeness to the 400 series highways, Keith neighbourhood is well-situated to transport goods by road, rail and vessel. The Southern Ontario railway and the Canadian National main line run through Keith Neighbourhood. The CN rail line brings at least 20 trains though the neighbourhood each day, which will take merchandise from factories and deliver them to their destination (Rowe, Keith Neigbourhood Tour, 2014). Furthermore, The Port of Hamilton is the busiest port in all of the Great Lakes (Transportation Gateway, 2013). Keith neighbourhood is located on Hamilton Harbour, making it an ideal location for industries seeking transport of goods via Lake Ontario.

Industry-Friendly NeighbourhoodKeith residents are seeking to re-emulate their industrial past as a walkable neighbourhood, where places of employment are within walking distance for residents (Rowe, In-Class Interview, 2014). In order to create a walkable neighbourhood, Keith residents are actively seeking prestige industry and environmentally friendly industry to locate in their neighbourhood, and will welcome rather than oppose the establishment of industry near residential areas. Furthermore, Keith neighbourhood has a willing workforce, with many residents actively seeking employment (Rowe, In-Class Interview, 2014). Its 7.1% unemployment rate (Wingard, 2014) creates a large labour pool for employers, and residents are willing to train to enhance their employability skills.

Abundance of Properties Available for Industrial UseKeith Neighbourhood has locations zoned for prestige industrial, mixed industrial and heavy industrial land use. 2/3 of the neighbourhood is industrial land, and 1/3 of the neighbourhood is comprised of the federally owned Hamilton Port Authority (Rowe, Keith Neigbourhood Tour, 2014). Throughout Keith neighbourhood, there is a wide variety of properties available for industrial use, including buildings and vacant land. Industrial facilities and land are available for long-term lease from the Hamilton Port Authority, which also provides storage space for goods received through the port. Furthermore, Keith neighbourhood features industrial parks for specific industries, such as recycling facilities and is in the process of developing an industrial complex on the brownfield where Studebaker plant was formerly located.

Weaknesses

Lack of Funding for InitiativeKeith Neighbourhood has limited funds available for promoting their neighbourhood to potential target markets. It is reliant on grants from the Hamilton Community Foundation, the Trillium Fund, acquiring financial resources independently, and finding ways to obtain resources for free (Rowe, In-Class Interview, 2014).

Limited Online PresenceAlthough Keith Neighbourhood Action Hub has a Facebook page, it does not have a website. A strong online presence is important in educating potential target markets about the neighbourhood, and persuading others to view their neighbourhood in a positive light.

Land Development IssuesIssues pertaining to land development may negatively impact the ability or desire for industries to build on land within Keith neighbourhood. These issues include a high water table (Rowe, Keith Neigbourhood Tour, 2014) , and a preference by industries to build on undeveloped Greenfields, rather than redevelop brownfields (Rowe, In-Class Interview, 2014). Furthermore, the Line Nine oil pipeline runs through the neighbourhood. The Imperial Oil-owned pipeline is represents land which could be used for building industrial facilities. However, Imperial Oil is unwilling to sell the land it owns, and this land is currently unavailable for building development(Rowe, Keith Neigbourhood Tour, 2014).

Opportunities

Increased Focus on the EnvironmentEnvironmental issues such as global warming has made environmental concern a predominant issue for consumers, industry and government. This concern is creating demand for waste to energy solutions, recycling initiatives, and green technology such as solar panels. Governments are also promoting use of clean and green technology. To promote the use of renewable energy and development of renewable energy facilities, the Ontario Power Authority introduced the Ontario Feed-In Tariff Program, which provides financial incentives for renewable energy production (Ontario Power Authority, 2014). Furthermore, the City of Hamilton is actively trying to attract clean and green manufacturers. According to the Hamilton Economic Development website, an “abundant number of research facilities, a growing clean-tech supply chain of business and supporting resources [means] Hamilton is favorably positioned to attract major renewable energy developers and investors to its community.”

Government Support of Brownfield Redevelopment To promote the redevelopment of brownfield sites, the City of Hamilton created the ERASE Redevelopment Grant Program, which provides organizations that undertake brownfield redevelopment projects with funding and incentives. Organizations can receive up to $20 000 to complete environmental assessment studies, grants to cover program costs and a freeze or cancellation of a portion of property taxes. (Incentives, 2013). Furthermore the Government of Ontario provides additional tax incentives which match the amount of the property tax incentives provided through the ERASE program (Brownfields Financial Tax Incentive Program, 2008).

Threats

Globalization and its Impact on the Ontario Manufacturing SectorA loss of manufacturing jobs is a long term trend experienced by many industrialized nations, with many organizations choosing to locate their manufacturing facilities in nations with lower labour costs. Many of these jobs have been lost as a result of a more globalized business environment. Due to its high labour costs, Ontario is at a competitive disadvantage in procuring manufacturing facilities. In the past 10 years, Ontario has lost 300 000 manufacturing jobs (HowOntario Lost 300 000 Manufacturing Jobs, 2014) . The prevalence of organizations choosing to manufacture their products offshore may create difficulty for communities, municipalities, and neighbourhoods seeking to attract industry as a source of employment.

Highly Competitive Labour MarketTechnological and advances and a globalized business environment have decreased the number of blue collar jobs available, and increased the skill level required to attain these positions. Organizations claim to receive hundreds of applications for entry level positions, but have difficulty finding qualified applicants for higher level positions (Wingard, 2014). Furthermore, due to the number of applications received, employers can demand a higher education level for entry level positions. Keith residents, 35% of which do not have any higher education (Rowe, In-Class Interview, 2014), will likely be competing with others from outside communities for local employment positions. If local residents are not chosen to fill these positions, Keith neighbourhood may not receive the full economic benefit of employers who relocate to their community.

Keith Neighbourhood Swot Analysis

STRENGTHS

Ability to Move Goods Easily.

Industry-Friendly Neighborhood.

Abundance of Properties Available for Industrial Use.

WEAKNESSES

Lack of Funding for Initiative.

Limited Online Presence.

Land Development Issues.

OPPORTUNITIES

Increased Focus on the Environment.

Government Support of Brownfield Redevelopment.

THREATS

Globalization and its Impact on the Ontario Manufacturing Sector.

Highly Competitive Labour Market.