Politics & Government

Opponents' Attorney Reacts to State's Dollar Tree Funding Approval

The decision to give the company a $7 million low interest state loan to help fund the construction of its Windsor distribution center does not affect the local lawsuit pending in Superior Court.

When that the state had approved a multi-million dollar loan to help Dollar Tree Inc. offset some of its construction costs, the attorney representing residents who oppose the project said he was not surprised.

Instead, Atty. Keith Ainsworth said it strikes him as "bizarre" that Malloy and other state officials would attempt to create more jobs and a better way of life for some people, “while ruining the lives of others.”

"To me, it doesn’t seem like a rational way to go about it," Ainsworth said by phone Friday afternoon.

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On Friday, the governor's offices shared a press release announcing the state's decision to assist with the funding of the work by providing a $7 million, low-interest loan to be applied to the overall $104 million cost of the project. In addition, the company is eligible for up to $20 million in Urban & Industrial Sites Reinvestment Tax Credits, according to the release.

The first phase of the project is expected to create more than 425 construction jobs over the next 12 months, according to the governor's release, and generate significant incremental tax revenues to the community, according to the release. A specific amount was not provided.

Find out what's happening in Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Windsor Mayor Donald S. Trinks credited the state's economic development program and the town's permitted process for securing such a facility.

Yet, Ainsworth said that officials should have given more consideration to the residents who live in the area of the construction.

"What’s the impact on people literally 50 feet away?" he asked. "There are for sale signs going up now. Some of them are actually having to see their homes and probably at a loss."

The Dollar Tree construction has been a significant issue in town since it was proposed earlier this rear. It has pitted many of the residents of the Rainbow neighborhood against town officials, spurring allegations of ethical violations and bad will.

Ainsworth said that the lawsuit brought against some town by residents that the council granted for Dollar Tree continues to weave its way through the legal process.


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