The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee has advanced a bill sponsored by Senator Kristin Corrado aimed at supporting New Jersey’s craft beverage industry. The legislation seeks to encourage, advertise, and promote locally manufactured craft alcoholic beverages, 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.”
If enacted, the bill would create the “Jersey Craft Beverage Retailer Promotion and Grant Program,” which would be managed by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) in partnership with the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism. The program would also develop certified signage for eligible retailers to use for promotional purposes. Additionally, grants would be provided to qualifying license holders to help with capital improvements or purchasing goods and services.
The full text of the bill S-3970 is available online.
