ESPN Likely 3rd of the First Five

[HartfordTycoon]

ESPN looks like they will be getting in on the First Five action. This is a good thing if they can get them to invest even more into their Bristol campus. They are in the midst of some pretty heavy development and transferring many employees from the print side of the business to Bristol from NYC. Having ESPN in town for the long haul and expanding is really the best lifeline that Bristol could ever ask for. Getting a rail connection between Bristol and Hartford should be a priority for this state.

Hartford Courant

The jobs juggernaut that is ESPN is likely to become the third company in Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's First Five program today, when the governor visits the sports network's Bristol campus for a "major economic development announcement."

ESPN will join CIGNA and TicketNetwork in the club of significant employers claiming state incentives for adding at least 200 employees. In ESPN's case, the company — a unit of the Walt Disney Co. — already said it would add 200 people this year in Bristol, back in March, when Malloy paid a visit.

[HartfordTycoon]

The full scope of the ESPN deal is kind of still being worked out but they are planning very substantial new construction and the addition of up to 800 jobs on the Bristol campus. This is a good thing. CT definitely needs to make sure that ESPN remains here and grows here.

Hartford Courant

"ESPN's needs were not going to be ignored," Malloy said Tuesday, as he named the media company the third in the First Five economic development program. The company will receive $300,000 in training money for the new workers, and a $17.5 million loan for construction of the new building at a below-market interest rate, still under negotiation.