As Stevensville's entry in the craft brewing sweepstakes currently marching across Michigan's Great Southwest draws closer to opening day, they're already planning for expanded capacity at the new brewhouse in the central business district. In fact, Berrien County's Loan Administration Board will hold a public hearing on a potential $33,000 loan to the Watermark team to help pave the way for expanded capacity through new fermentation tanks.
Last month the County's Loan Administration Board had to table the matter in order to seek counsel from Lansing on their ability to make the loan, and in order to establish a date for a public hearing on the matter. That public hearing is slated for Thursday, May 19th at 1:30pm in the County Administration Center on Main Street in St. Joseph.
Berrien County Economic Development head Dan Fette says that with the regulatory restrictions on the use of the money available to them for loans such as the one being sought by Watermark, they were unsure of whether or not they can actually make the loan to be consistent with the regulations, however they are "fairly confident" they will be able to do it, so they wanted to get the public hearing set in a timely manner to avoid slowing the rest of the process down.
Waterfront's $821,000 project across from the Village Hall in Stevensville is well underway and targeting a summer opening. The $33,000 loan being sought from the county will help grow their capacity through additional equipment and machinery for the brewing of craft beers. The building will boast a sizable taproom and beer garden, however, there will be no dedicated food service. Instead, developers there are looking to the model of Arclight Brewing in Watervliet, where outside food is allowed to be brought in to be consumed with one's favorite micro-brew. Stay tuned.
