The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development has finalized a deal that will bring the headquarters of the country”™s largest intercollegiate athletic conference, the Eastern College Athletic Conference, from Massachusetts to Danbury.
Under the terms of the agreement, the ECAC will bring about 20 jobs to Danbury by July when it relocates.
The development department will support the relocation with $400,000 in assistance from the state”™s Small Business Express program.
The ECAC will receive a $100,000 matching grant that requires the creation of five jobs and a $300,000 loan, $200,000 of which is forgivable if 10 jobs are created within 18 months.
“Relocating the ECAC headquarters to the Matrix Corporate Center in Northern Fairfield County, Connecticut will better enable us to service our entire membership at the highest levels,” said ECAC Commissioner Kevin McGinniss. The center is on Old Ridgebury Road.
“In addition to the direct jobs this deal is creating for residents, the state and the ECAC will work closely to explore the possibility of bringing more conference events ”“ and the jobs and economic activity that come along with them ”“ to our state,” Gov. Dannell Malloy said in a statement. “We”™re thrilled that the conference is making this long-term commitment to Connecticut and are looking forward to a great partnership.”
The ECAC serves 312 schools spanning 12 states. According to the ECAC, the move to the Matrix Corporate Center positions the ECAC headquarters and its staff in a centralized location accessible to its entire membership.
The ECAC studied multiple locations and commercial properties in southern New England, Westchester County, N.Y., and northern New Jersey before selecting Danbury. The conference embraces NCAA divisions I, II and III and runs from Maine to North Carolina and west to Missouri. About 110,000 athletes compete in its male and female sports.
“Both our business and sports communities are anxious to welcome the ECAC,” said Danbury Mayor Mark D. Boughton. “The ECAC has a terrific reputation and they will be undoubtedly embraced by our city.”
The proceeds from the sale of the ECAC”™s longtime headquarters at the Bushnell Center in Centerville, Mass., will be added to the ECAC Endowment Fund.
