38 Studios hasn’t even finished moving to Rhode Island, but they already have an array of foes waiting for them in the state. Local politicians have taken issue with the terms of the developer’s move, specifically the $75 million loan incentive from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Among the most outspoken critics include Gubernatorial candidate, Lincoln Chafee.
“I call on you and the Board to suspend the commitment to 38 Studios and to conduct a full, fair and far reaching RFP (request for proposal) process to ensure that Rhode Island gets the best possible use of its new loan guarantee fund,” Chafee wrote to EDC Director Keith Stokes.
Frank Caprio, the current State Treasurer and a Democratic candidate for Governor, also sent a letter to the EDC, saying that modifications “need to be made to the arrangement with Schilling’s company in order to adequately protect and benefit taxpayers.”
“You can’t fix the economy with silver-bullet solutions. Seventy-five million dollars could go a long way to help many small businesses here in Rhode Island, and we can’t afford to set aside such a large sum of money for specific inducements to special companies,” preached Moderate Party Gubernatorial candidate Ken Block.
Could 38 Studios' move to a new location be in peril already?
[Via GamePolitics]
