Committee advances bill to create craft beverage promotion and grant program
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Summary
The committee released S1082 to establish a Jersey craft beverage retailer promotion and grant program in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority; industry backers said program funding would be sourced from industry-generated tax dollars and the bill is bipartisan.
The Senate Economic Growth Committee voted to release Senate Bill 1082, which would create the Jersey craft beverage retailer promotion and grant program under the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
Eric Orlando of the Brewers Guild of New Jersey told the committee the bill, carried bipartisan support, aims to help small breweries and craft beverage producers by incentivizing retailers to carry local products. "This is something that the guild started to work on last session...we thought it was very worthwhile to pursue," Orlando said.
Senator Perrotta and others noted the cultural and economic importance of breweries to the state, and multiple trade groups registered support and waived testimony, including the New Jersey Liquor Store Alliance and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.
A motion to release S1082 was moved by Senator Corrado and seconded by Vice Chair Turner. Roll call recorded affirmative votes from Senator Corrado, Senator McKeon (left vote), Vice Chair Turner and Chair Cruz Perez; the committee released the bill to the next stage.
