< Previous10 REC-1206 Reckson Corp Ad - BIF City of Stamford Feature - 2018_8.27x5.7_v2.indd 12/7/18 3:49 PMgrowing digital media company roster here.” Stamford has the Yankees Entertainment and Sports (YES) Network, A+E Network and is the headquarters for World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. WWE recently purchased two new buildings here and announced that the XFL broadcasting will come from Stamford. Charter Communications is constructing a brand new, 500,000-square-foot building and is planning to expand to about 1,500 employees by hiring five hundred more people over the next few years. Gartner, one of the chief computer consulting firms in Stamford, plans to expand from its current 1,250 people to 2,500 people over the next five years. In the biotechnology sector, for-profit health information and genomic testing company Sema4 – a spinoff of the Mount Sinai Health System that analyzes data from genome testing – plans to build additional laboratory spaces, and will most likely expand its office further in the next years.Stamford has seen nearly 900,000 square feet in new com-mercial lease signed, including Henkel North America, Bank of America, ISG, Omnicom Group, Aircastle Limited, and First Reserve. This has become a popular destination for businesses due to its access to a large workforce in the area and its con-veniently accessible location along the Boston-Washington Corridor. “When you look at a thirty-mile radius of Stamford, there are about 1.6 million people to draw upon, and there are about fifty universities in the area, and because of the excellent train and other transportation access, you can get here right away,” says Madden. Another bonus for businesses is that while Stamford is close to New York City, it is much more affordable. The office space located adjacent to the Stamford Transportation Center in Stamford rents for $45 per square foot, whereas in NYC, this would be around $70 to $150 per square foot. As you move “We are continuing down the path of having a highly diversified economy.”Indeed HQ in Stamford10 NBC Sports Group HQ11 REC-1206 Reckson Corp Ad - BIF City of Stamford Feature - 2018_8.27x5.7_v2.indd 12/7/18 3:49 PMaway from the train station the prices drop even more. The tax incentives in Connecticut are an additional enticement, as the state’s taxes for doing business are much lower that the surrounding states.Stamford Mayor David Martin continually finds ways to add to the quality of life in the city such as improving the parks and recreation areas and the school system. “We are making sure that we have everything we need to support the economy as it continues to grow,” says Madden. The city is also working to enhance the quality of its beaches, which are popular attractions in the summer months. The summer is an ideal time to be in Stamford as there is abundant access to water all over the city. People are always out kayaking, sailing and swimming; it is the perfect escape from the big city life next door. Stamford has over three hundred restaurants, and over one hundred of those are concentrated in the downtown area. Residents are proud of the many nationalities that are repre-sented in Stamford’s plentiful restaurants. It is an ideal city for food selection and also for craft beer. A new brewery recently opened in Stamford called Lock City Brewery, and its fast success is motivating it to consider expanding into a new building to keep up with growth.Stamford’s proximity to New York City improves its ability to grow with industry-leading businesses and a highly technical community, yet it is much more affordable and offers a very dif-ferent quality of life than a big city. Stamford plans to continue its growth with its diversified economy and to become more technologically-based as the years go by. “We are continuing down the path of having a highly diver-sified economy,” says Madden. “We have been known as a manufacturing city transitioning into a financial city, but what we are looking for now, as we move forward, is that diversity among the financial sector, the digital media sector and the consumer products sector to create a unique ecosystem that companies look for.”Stamford Government Center, 888 Washington Boulevard, Stamford, CT 06901 | P: (203) 977-4140SUPPORTED BY As featured inApril 2018Next >