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* Rowland Holds Stadium Summit
(Hartford-WTNH) _ After a stadium summit at the capitol, Governor John Rowland says progress is being made in efforts to clear the the New England Patriots site in Hartford, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to find any. The state must file a progress report to the team in just two days, and the governor says he will be able to show progress, and the patriots will not pull out of their deal to re-locate the NFL franchise here in Connecticut. But if there is progress it's being measured in inches and not yards.
Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports.

Gov John Rowland: "We're probably in better shape than we were a week ago, in terms of negotiating with CTG."

The governor says talks with the company that owns the gas company and the steam plant have gone better; that the gas company has removed some of the obstacles in the way of a deal, but there is no deal yet to move either the steam plant or the Connecticut Natural Gas company headquarters.

Despite that some of the region's top corporate representatives from all the big insurance companies, banks and other businesses remain optimistic following a meeting with the governor today. They say they will beef up a pro-stadium effort.

Karl Krapek, Pres., Pratt & Whitney "We also told the Governor that if he had further requests, we'd stand by him, he hasn't made those yet, he thinks things are going much better this week than last week."

Anthony Giorgio, Hartford Growth Council: "As these discussions continue and greater specificity occurs, the corporate community is prepared to listen and respond in whatever way it can."

Gov. Rowland: "I've also asked the business community to come back to us with some creative solutions and ways to help bridge some of the financing of moving the CTG Headquarters."

The governor also said today that he expected the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority to make some progress today on acquiring the steam business for its trash to energy plant about a mile from the stadium site. But following a board of directors meeting this afternoon, the head of the C.R.R.A. would only say that he had had his first face-to-face meeting with the steam plant owner yesterday.

Robert Wright, Pres., C.R.R.A.: "We've made some progress on some of those issues but we are certainly not at a deal signing stage at this time."

When asked Wright would not rule out the possibility of a deal by Friday, but immediately said he wouldn't rule one in either. The governor's office says they feel confident that the report they have to make the day after tomorrow will show enough progress to keep the Patriots plugging for Hartford.


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