Bethlehem Distillery Gets OK For State’s First New Economic Development Incentive

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Bethlehem-based distillery to be opened by the owner of Franklin Hill Vineyards received approval today to be the first business in the state to use a new economic development incentive.

The Bethlehem Revitalization and Improvement Authority gave its unanimous approval to grant the distillery — which will be called Social Still — funding through the state’s City Revitalization and Improvement Zone. The designation allows state and local nonproperty taxes from new businesses in the zone to help finance new development within it.

Authority members debated today over how much of those taxes the business should get. The authority’s guidelines say the authority “strives” to give the developer 80 percent of the funding, an amount board member Ann McHale said is too low for such a unique project.

Read more: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2014/09/distillery_gets_ok_for_bethleh.html

Old Republic Distillery Plans To Open Tasting Room, Retail Shop In West Manchester Township

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting York County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Soon, fans of Old Republic Distillery won’t have to travel to Seven Valleys to buy a bottle of its Apple Pie Moonshine or Blackberry Vodka.

The distillery is relocating its tasting room to the York Crossing shopping center in West Manchester Township. It hopes to open in a 1,300-square-foot space in the shopping center by mid-to-late September.

The move is expected to raise Old Republic’s profile and boost sales, said Denise Mathias, 45, who owns the distillery with her brother Bill Mathias, 44.

Old Republic, thought to be the only distillery in York County and the first to open here since Prohibition, has developed a loyal following since launching in March 2013.

Read more: http://www.ydr.com/business/ci_26285562/old-republic-distillery-plans-open-tasting-room-retail

Big Spring Distillery Soft Opening Helps Prepare For Grander Version In Bellefonte

Counties constituting the Happy Valley Region of Pennsylvania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  The distillery movement is really starting to take off in Pennsylvania.  I keep running across these popping up around our great state.

Vana Dainty sat down with Kevin Lloyd to help him coordinate the final details of the grand opening for his Bellefonte distillery in two weeks.

Dainty, the borough’s Keystone Community development coordinator, said the Match Factory distillery, named Big Spring Spirits, will be good for the borough.

“Kevin has been a delight to work with, and this should really be a great part of Bellefonte that brings in new tourists and a part of the turning point for our economy,” Dainty said. “It’s different than anything else in Centre County.”

Lloyd said he has seen the value of a helping hand not only from Dainty, but from dozens of others as he opens his new business.

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2014/07/24/4278398/big-spring-distillery-soft-opening.html?sp=/99/116/#storylink=cpy

Pottstown Micro-Biz Hopes To ‘Distill’ Formula For Success

POTTSTOWN, PA — Pennsylvania’s fledgling craft distillery industry owes a debt of gratitude to America’s micro-brew movement and nobody knows it better than Max Pfeffer.

The director of operations for the Manatawny Still Works and its chief distiller, Pfeffer didn’t have to go far to find his new job.

It was a short hop to go from craft-brewing to craft-distilling for the chemical engineer.

After being educated in brewing at a special school at the University of California at Davis, Pfeffer “went right into beer,” and spent three years at Victory Brewing, followed by three years as brew master at Sly Fox Brewing Co., located directly across the street from the Circle of Progress location of the new distillery.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20140301/pottstown-micro-biz-hopes-to-distill-formula-for-success