Politics & Government

With State Layoffs Looming, Gov. Malloy Brings His Jobs Tour to Greenwich [Video]

Malloy: Blue Sky Studios & 400 jobs are example of how CT is attracting business.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy launched his Jobs Tour of the Nutmeg State Monday which included a stop in Greenwich where movie animation titan Blue Sky Studios relocated its corporate headquarters.

During the whistle stop tour of Blue Sky that clocked in just over an hour, Malloy addressed more than 400 employees of the firm, whose credits include the blockbusters “Ice Age” and “Rio.” Malloy ticked off a list of more than $45 million in tax credits and financial incentives that prompted Blue Sky to move to the sliver of Greenwich that’s sandwiched inside Westchester County, bounded by I-684 and the Kensico Reservoir and the Westchester County Airport, about two years ago.

Part of the deal was that made during the Rell administration,  was that Blue Sky would bring 300 jobs with the relocation from Westchester County, NY. The firm has more than 400 employees in the 106,000-square foot facility in American Way office campus.

Find out what's happening in Greenwichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“You are what we should be supporting,” Malloy told the assembled employees. “This is a perfect example … you are a leader.”

Malloy later said that despite the state’s economic situation, given the rejection of concessions by state employee unions, “we cannot afford not to” give similar economic concessions to businesses looking for new home turf. (Please see video.)

Find out what's happening in Greenwichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The visit and public kudos to Blue Sky came on the heels of news that two more state employee unions have rejected Malloy’s two-year budget plan which includes several concessions. Malloy has said that up to 7,500 state employees could face layoffs if his budget plan was not accepted. During his tour, Malloy said he plans to resolve the issues on Thursday.

Malloy’s tour – which included a walk-through of the facility where staffers create fully-animated movies – was part of the first day of his continuing “Jobs Tour.” He and state Economic and Community Development Commissioner Catherine Smith began their tour with a luncheon confab hosted by the Business Council of Fairfield County at the Stamford Marriott.

Blue Sky employees asked a handful of questions on topics that ranged from minimizing traffic congestion and whether Connecticut would institute a paternity leave, to reducing gas prices and expanding single-stream garbage recycling. Malloy told one questioner who wanted to know why steep Connecticut gas prices could not be more competitive with cheaper gas in New Jersey, New Jersey makes up the difference by imposing highway tolls.

Malloy said he intends to take on the industry that imposes zoned-pricing, with Fairfield County bearing the brunt of higher prices when compared to the rest of the state where prices are typically 20 to 30 cents a gallon cheaper.

Malloy concluded his visit with a demonstration by Blue Sky employees explaining how their computer-generated work is created and results in a feature-length film, and a preview of the upcoming film “Ice Age – The Continental Drift.” Malloy was to continue his jobs tour Tuesday in Farmington.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here