House Republican Press Release

May 21, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Blue Sky Move is Huge Win for Greenwich and Connecticut

By Livvy R. Floren, Lile R. Gibbons and Dolly Powers

It is great news indeed that one of the world’s top digital animation studios is moving to Greenwich. Great news for our community and for our state.

Blue Sky Studios, the company behind “Horton Hears a Who” and “Ice Age,” a bonafide feature animation film producer, has announced that it will be bringing its 300+ talented and skilled employees to our town and will be headquartered at Greenwich American Center.

Connecticut is fast on its way to creating a dynamic media industry for the state.  It is a pleasure to support legislation that helps attract companies like Blue Sky to our area.

Since the Connecticut tax credit took effect in 2006, we have gone from playing host to the occasional film shoot to attracting 66 feature films, television shows and commercials with a collective $400 million in production expenditures, the majority in Fairfield County.

Having a company of Blue Sky's caliber set down roots in Greenwich is an economic coup for our community. With their arrival Greenwich has helped solidify Connecticut’s leadership for film, digital and television production in the nation. 

The company’s contributions to the state’s economy will be felt both statewide and here in town.  Start with the income taxes and economic activity at the state level that will be generated.  Then add to that the significant increase in local property taxes for Greenwich and the growth in spending that comes with getting movies done on a deadline - caterers, hotels, and many other local businesses will become important parts of the Blue Sky economic engine.

Just as exciting are the potential workforce development opportunities Blue Sky represents. From local high school students interested in the entertainment industry to college students in the area with a skill in digital and computer animation, there will be meaningful internship and learning opportunities for our many of our most creative students.

We welcome Blue Sky with open arms and look forward to attracting other industries to Connecticut. If the legislature has learned nothing else, we hope it understands, the needs to be pro-business which really means pro-jobs.