With political and economic uncertainty looming over New York City’s business climate following Tuesday’s mayoral election, Stamford officials this month are launching a marketing campaign aimed at attracting companies to one of Connecticut’s largest cities.
The initiative, which includes digital ads set to run in New York City starting this month, has been in development for months, said Leah Kagan, Stamford’s economic development 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 reaction to Tuesday’s election of Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, as New York City’s new mayor. Mamdani defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels.
Mamdani’s election has raised concerns among some business leaders about potential changes to taxes, real estate policy and regulation in New York City, which already faces high operating costs and ongoing struggles with office vacancies.
“The timing does appear to be somewhat serendipitous, because there is a lot of chatter around what the reaction will be among businesses and startups in New York City,” Kagan told FairfieldBiz Wednesday morning. “We are monitoring that closely, and we are ready to seize any opportunities that come our way.”
She added: “For the past few years, we’ve been relentlessly focused on business retention coming out of the COVID pandemic back in 2021, but we knew more recently that we needed to really put more of an emphasis on business attraction. Stamford has so many great things to offer, and we need to be shouting it from the rooftops.”
Mamdani ran on a platform that was unpopular with the New York City’s business community, promising to raise taxes on large corporations and the wealthiest individuals to lower the overall cost of living. He also said he would make the city’s buses fare-free, freeze rent on stabilized apartments and provide universal, no-cost child care for children up to five years old. He also promised to raise the minimum wage and build new affordable housing.
Kagan said it remains to be seen whether Mamdani’s election will help drive New York City companies to Stamford, or other parts of Connecticut.
“We are certainly ready to welcome any businesses that decide that they no longer want to be in New York City,” she said. “We know that we are also ready to welcome anyone from any city or any other place throughout the country that wants to benefit from everything Stamford has to offer.”
She said the campaign will also include large advertisements at the city’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. Digital ads have already begun appearing on LinkedIn and Spotify.
In addition to promoting Stamford’s quality of life, Kagan said the campaign highlights its competitive costs and business incentives. Commercial real estate in Stamford is roughly half the price of comparable space in New York City, she said, 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 its business-friendly programs, including Connecticut’s digital media tax credit and enterprise zone incentives, which offer unique opportunities for companies looking to relocate or expand.
“The focus is really featuring Stamford as a unicorn city in our marketing campaign,” she said. “It is a city that has something for everyone.”