Nearly every month that the state”™s job report is released, a certain amount of envy surrounds Danbury. The city often boasts the lowest unemployment rate in the state and leads in a number of other economic indicators. Currently, the city”™s unemployment rate sits at 6.4 percent, for instance, compared with the statewide average of 8.7 percent.
Reflecting on the past year”™s growth, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton thanked members of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce Dec. 13 for their hard work and dedication to the city. In his annual address on the state of the city, Boughton said dozens of small and midsize businesses had opened their doors, while several larger corporations had expanded their footprints. The annual luncheon, held at the Crowne Plaza Danbury Hotel, was the largest yet with more than 350 people in attendance.
“We have had another strong year as far as new business growth and development are concerned,” Boughton said. “Danbury is blessed with tremendous assets: a first- rate hospital, a world-class university, a vibrant arts community that encourages a sharing of ideas, a public safety system with metrics that are the envy of any city in Connecticut and, of course, an economy that is the best in the state of Connecticut.”
Western Connecticut Health Network is expanding its facilities by 300,000 square feet. Belimo Air Controls USA plans to added hundreds of new jobs to fill its new 120,000-square-foot building. And the Danbury Sports Dome has opened a new 120,000-square-foot sports facility.
Emhart, a long-time Danbury company, is bringing its U.S. industrial headquarters to Danbury. First Five company New Oak Credit Services will move to the Matrix Corporate Center from New York state. And Greystar, a national apartment developer, plans to build 367 luxury apartments in the heart of the city.
“These are tremendous economic development successes in the worst economy since the Great Depression,” Boughton said. “I would like to take the credit for it ”“really I would ”“ but the reality is that things happen because of you, the wonderful, hardworking business community of Western Connecticut and, of course, this wonderful Chamber of Commerce, its members and its leadership.”
To better serve business on Main Street, Boughton said the city had conducted several merchant and property owner meetings to explain what economic development tools are available and had reduced fees on permits, sewer connections and zoning.
Mentioning some of the challenges that came with managing the city”™s finances after the economic collapse, Boughton said the city was eliminating inefficiencies, revamping employee benefits and making key investments in education.
“As I look around this room I see people who I have come to truly admire and respect,” Boughton said. “I see self-made business people, entrepreneurs, public servants and professionals. I see the people that have made Danbury and Western Connecticut flourish.”
