Hartford Business Journal

HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | NOVEMBER 17, 2025 5 What's Trending CT, city of Stamford ramp up NYC poaching efforts amid Mamdani mayoral win An ad being used as part of Stamford's business-recruitment campaign. By Michael Juliano & Michael Puffer mjuliano@hartfordbusiness.com W ith political and economic uncertainty looming over New York City's business climate following the Nov. 4 mayoral election, Stamford officials have launched a new marketing campaign aimed at attracting companies to one of Connecticut's largest cities. The initiative, which includes running digital ads in The Big Apple, has been in development for months, said Leah Kagan, Stamford's economic develop- ment director. City leaders began planning the strategy in early 2025, with the goal of unveiling it this fall. Kagan said the campaign is not a direct response to the Nov. 4 elec- tion of Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as New York City's new mayor. His platform — promising to raise taxes on large corporations and wealthy individuals in order to invest in social and other programs that aim to lower the cost of living — has unsettled parts of New York City's business community and sparked concerns that some companies and residents may flee the city amid fears of rising costs and tighter regulations. "The timing does appear to be some- what serendipitous, because there is a lot of chatter around what the reaction will be among businesses and startups in New York City," Kagan said. "We are monitoring that closely, and we are ready to seize any opportunities that come our way." State officials are also watching closely. AdvanceCT, the nonprofit respon- sible for Connecticut's business recruitment and retention efforts, has stepped up outreach to New York Leah Kagan City companies — particularly in the financial services sector — since Mamdani's victory. "Mayor-elect Mamdani has made it fairly clear that he has a specific point of view about the business community in New York," said John Bourdeaux, president and CEO of AdvanceCT. "We are wondering if the business commu- nity in New York might be thoughtful about that, and whether or not they would want to engage in a conversation with us about a potential relocation or expanding their operations to the east of where they are now." Mamdani has argued that his focus on affordability will ultimately benefit businesses by making it easier for them to attract and retain workers. Bourdeaux said AdvanceCT has long prospected in and around New York City but recently accelerated those efforts. Staff have been asking companies about their level of concern with the incoming Mamdani administration; if there's little unease, he added, the group will shift its focus elsewhere. Kagan said Stamford officials have been focused on retaining local employers in recent years, but are now putting greater emphasis on attracting new ones, touting the city's quality of life, affordability and business-friendly climate. The marketing campaign will include large advertisements at Stamford's train station — the Stewart B. McKinney Transportation Center — from December through February, supported by a contribution from Charter Communications. The city has spent less than $100,000 on the effort and received about $250,000 in in-kind advertising, Kagan said. Digital ads are appearing on LinkedIn and Spotify. In addition to promoting Stam- ford's quality of life, Kagan said the campaign highlights the city's competitive costs. Commercial real estate in Stamford is roughly half the price of comparable space in New York City, she noted, while still offering the urban amenities companies and workers expect — from diverse dining options to proximity to beaches, hiking trails and cultural attractions across Connecticut. The city is also emphasizing business-friendly programs, including Connecticut's digital media tax credit and enterprise zone incentives. "The focus is really featuring Stam- ford as a unicorn city in our marketing campaign," she said. "It is a city that has something for everyone." John Bourdeaux Introducing the HBJ Data Center. HBJ subscribers now have access to unlimited data. Premium Subscribers can directly access all of our ranked company lists, build custom lists using HBJ's proprietary data, and explore detailed profiles of the businesses featured in our rankings. Subscribe now and get all HBJ subscription benefits, including online news, print editions and the new HBJ Data Center. Top CT News + Unlimited Data HBJ Premium www.hartfordbusiness.com / subscribe

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