Downtown Stamford should be used as a state model for continued growth, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy told downtown property owners June 25 at an annual dinner.
“The more time I spend in other cities in Connecticut and around the nation, the more I realize how very special Stamford is,”  said Malloy, who served as the mayor of Stamford for 14 years.
With its continued urban redevelopment and population growth, Malloy congratulated the city on its successes and putting itself on a trajectory for continued growth.
Malloy’s speech was the highlight of the 21st annual dinner for property owners, held by the Stamford Downtown Special Services District (DSSD) at the  Stamford Marriott Hotel and Spa.
“I grew up in a city that is unlike other cities in this state,” Malloy said of Stamford. “A  city that 50 years ago decided to change its course, establish a course and then stay on that course. That has not been the model for Connecticut for a very long time.”
Malloy said his term as governor has been greatly influenced by Stamford and the need to make the right decisions in what to invest in. Touting his job creation efforts such as First Five, the Small Business Express loan program, Step Up and the Bioscience Connecticut Initiative, Malloy said he was on a mission to create a stronger Connecticut economy for years to come.
“I know there’s people in this state that just don’t get it,” Malloy said. “This is about changing the direction, the trajectory, of the state of Connecticut.”
