New London hails Pfizer's decision.(Brief Article)

In the high stakes game of economic development, score one for New London -- a big one.

Pfizer Inc., the New York-based pharmaceutical giant, has selected New London to be the worldwide headquarters for Pfizer Global Research and Development, its newly restructured $4.5 billion research and development division. Pfizer will build a $270 million campus of office buildings and employ about 2,000 employees by next year.

Rhode Island officials were disappointed, but not necessarily surprised by the company's decision.

John Martin, director of communications at the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, said last week that because Pfizer had been going through significant restructuring of late, he was …