Hoping to take the growing craft beverage industry to new heights, a Southern Tier organization is looking into the possibility of a new craft brewing incubator. Emily Lorsch spoke with those involved with the study, who say this incubator could be a center of excellence for the industry.
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Craft beverage producers like the Binghamton Brewing Company are working with a Southern Tier organization to bring the industry to new heights.
"Right now we're a two barrel nano brewery so we're very very small and we're lucky that there's been great demand for our product," said Binghamton Brewing Company Owner Kristen Lyons.
But with high demand, many of the smaller craft beverage producers are tapped out of resources. That's why the Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board is hoping to help expand the fast growing industry.
"So the idea is ok how can we be that crutch in order to increase their capacity, increase their processing, increase their efficiency, increase their profits so they're sustainable," said Erik Miller, Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board director.
The board is using an $8,000 federal grant to study the feasibility of a new craft brewing incubator.
"Shared resources and knowledge that will bring an economy of scale. We're excited to be building a center of excellence for the craft beer industry," said Binghamton Brewing Company owner Jason Gardner.
It's an industry that grew about 60 percent just from 2013 to 2014.
"We don't want to recreate the wheel but we want to make sure that we can attract the multiple players that are out there and bring them into one facility and assist this one industry," Miller said.
One of the main questions is, where is the best place for this incubator to benefit the most craft beverage producers? The owners of the Binghamton Brewing Company here in Johnson City said it should be in Broome County.
"Obviously we're hoping it's right here in the hub in the Binghamton area where there's such great access both for distribution and central location," said Gardner.
And location is not the only factor that must be determined -- there's also who will be involved, how far producers are willing to travel, how large the facility needs to be, and much more. While it's a project that needs planning the director said the future looks bright for the craft beverage industry.
"This is more than something that can be feasible," Miller said.
The board is meeting with many people involved in the industry and other local organizations to complete their needs analysis and ultimately start brewing.
Miller expects to have the results of the study within six months.