There's more talk about Hollywood moving to Connecticut. This time, South Windsor is getting ready for its close-up.
Pacifica Ventures wants to build a $90 million complex that would not only lure big budget movies, but could also mean money and jobs for Connecticut.
South Windsor officials have been in talks for about nine months with the company.
The California-based company is envisioning a complex that would consist of a series of soundstages that would then be leased to film and television production companies. The studios would be located on a 61-acre triangle of land between Route 5 and Ellington Road just north of I-291.
Mike Gantick with the Department of Public Works says it "would be a great opportunity for the state of Connecticut and South Windsor."
They're hoping it comes to fruition soon because it could also mean an influx of jobs, on the order of 500 to 600 jobs to build the complex and then 2,000 permanent jobs, they predict.
For the project to go forward, state tax credits have to be available. That's why the town manager has reached out to the legislature which has been toying with suspending the film tax credit program.
"They've had a lot of contact with the Governor's Office," said Gantick. "They already had a letter of agreement with Economic Development that basically says this project is ready to go."
If developers can get state assistance they would like to break ground this spring.
