NEW JERSEY — A bill sponsored by Sen. Kristin Corrado that aims to promote and support New Jersey’s craft beverage industry has advanced out of the Senate Economic Growth Committee.
The legislation would establish the “Jersey Craft Beverage Retailer Promotion and Grant Program,” to be administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority in conjunction with the state Division of Travel and Tourism. The program is designed to encourage, advertise and promote craft alcoholic beverages manufactured in New Jersey, as well as the retailers who sell them.
“New Jersey is home to some of the nation’s best craft beverage makers, and establishing this program gives them the tools they need to showcase their products to the world,” said Sen. Corrado. “By promoting our homegrown breweries, wineries, and distilleries, and the retailers who support them, we’re not only strengthening a thriving industry, we’re boosting tourism and driving economic growth in communities across our state.”
Under the proposal, the EDA would develop certified “Jersey Craft Alcohol Beverage Retailer” signage for eligible alcoholic beverage license holders to use for promotional purposes.
The bill would also create a grant program to help eligible license holders fund capital improvements or purchase goods and services. Grants would be issued from a newly established “New Jersey Certified Jersey Craft Alcohol Beverage Retailer Fund.”
The fund would be credited with 50% of receipts from the per-gallon tax on beer, cider, mead and liquors sold by holders of limited brewery, restricted brewery, farm brewery, cidery and meadery, or craft distillery licenses.
The measure directs the EDA to establish guidelines for eligibility, application timelines, acceptable uses for grant funding and reporting requirements.
