GROTON, Conn. (AP) - Three years after Pfizer Inc. announced more than 1,000 layoffs that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy at the time called “terrible news,” the pharmaceutical company and the state said Wednesday they’ve come up with new uses for the Groton site.
Malloy and top officials of his administration and Pfizer said two vacant buildings on the company’s campus will be used for bioscience research and the storage of state data. Pfizer said it will donate a building to be used as a business incubator, drawing entrepreneurs, scientists, startups and growing companies.
“Last year, Pfizer had to make some difficult decisions to address excess capacity at its Groton campus,” said Catherine Smith, commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development. “We are grateful that the company worked so closely with the state and many local stakeholders to look for innovative solutions. “
A spokeswoman said Pfizer now employs more than 3,000 full-time employees at Groton.
The state Bond Commission has approved $4.2 million for renovations and initial costs.
Pfizer will lease another building to house a state data center for $1 a year. The information technology data center will support the work of about 50,000 state employees, including functions related to public safety.
Donald DeFronzo, commissioner of the state Department of Administrative Services, said the Groton site gives Connecticut a place for a disaster recovery facility where IT systems and data are backed up and available in an emergency.
Pfizer announced in 2011 plans to lay off more than 1,000 employees at its Groton research and development site and shift work to Cambridge, Mass.
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