Citing Economy—

Tech Firm Cools

Relocation Plans

By John Voket

ATMI, a $100 million Danbury-based global technology firm with ties to semiconductor industries, notified First Selectman Joe Borst, that it is “rethinking” its relocation strategy due to current global economic conditions.

The town was poised to welcome the firm to a corporate headquarters site the company was exploring off Edmond Road, according to a report from Mr Borst to his fellow selectmen that was made at a December 1, 2008, meeting.

Since then, Republican Selectman Paul Mangiafico has made several requests for the first selectman to follow-up on the company’s intentions, but after making several calls to a company principal who resides in Newtown, with no previous response, Mr Borst told The Bee he was concerned about appearing to rush company officials when they were clearly not responding to his calls or queries.

Reading to the selectmen from what appeared to be a letter or statement March 16, Mr Borst said the company has left the door open to come back in a few months, but has currently “deferred action on relocating due to economic conditions.”

Mr Borst said the company has promised to “keep Newtown posted” about any changes in the proposal’s current status. A move by the company into a facility most recently occupied by Pitney-Bowes was being touted as attracting upwards of 200 new jobs and ultimately, as much as $300,000 in annual property tax revenues to the town.

In November 2008, the Legislative Council unanimously authorized Newtown’s Economic Development Commission to propose an amendment to the current Business Incentive Plan to be able to offer the maximum economic benefit that state statute permits to a business that would locate in Newtown.

During the December 1 selectmen’s meeting, Mr Borst said ATMI was also considering sites in the Albany, N.Y., region, and that Newtown needed to be positioned to compete with generous initiatives to recruit the Connecticut company to upstate New York.

Mr Borst said he told company officials that he believed Newtown not only offered a more desirable location, but a better quality workforce than what ATMI might find in New York’s capital region.