Breweries Could Provide Economic Boost to Elizabethton

I have written before about the impact and importance that craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries can have on our economy. The big point is that these industries are considered what we call base-export industries just like manufacturing. They produce a product and export it outside of the Elizabethton market in exchange for bringing money back into the Elizabethton market. This gives us the possibility of having a large economic impact in Elizabethton.

Breweries have the potential to have a large economic impact on their local communities. According to the Brewers Association, small and independent American craft brewers contributed $55.7 billion to the U.S. economy in 2014 and created over 424,000 jobs. For Tennessee alone, craft brewers created $159.20 of economic impact per person over the age of 20! Applying this to a local level and the impact on Elizabethton could be approximately $5,649,717! This impact on our economy is roughly the same as the impact of recruiting a new manufacturing industry that hires 10 people would provide.

Local craft breweries would also provide additional soft impacts on our community. Craft breweries tend to function as anchors to a commercial district especially after 5:00 when many other retailers are closed. Because they are destinations, they become attractive locations for other businesses that may be open after 5:00 such as restaurants, bakeries, and coffee bars.

Additionally, young adults and young professionals look for these types of businesses in a community where they desire to move. Indeed, the millennial generation (those born after 1980) has even come to adopt craft brewed beer as a central idea of their generation. Many times craft brewed beer is not inexpensive like nationwide beer brands. Often they cost $5+ for a glass, which helps prevent over consumption, yet still makes it affordable for the young accountant, store manager, or nurse. A brewery in Elizabethton will help make our community a more attractive place for young, talented, and educated people and couples to live. This also brings a more talented workforce to Elizabethton, which make recruiting a new business or industry much more easy.

While Elizabethton’s land-use policies do need to be tuned, right now a small brewery desiring to sell beer in downtown Elizabethton could do so at many locations. Additionally, many other locations outside of downtown are viable options as well! We must realize that there are many strong benefits to allowing and recruiting such an establishment and the positives will ultimately outweigh any possible negatives. Are we ready? Let’s take the next step forward. Let’s talk about it!