Appalachian Brewery Co. is doubling down on Harrisburg, planning an expansion that will substantially increase its footprint in the city.
The brewery and brew pub hopes to build a new, 8,000- square-foot warehouse, plus a new loading dock and parking area, on a large parcel of land next to its headquarters on N. Cameron Street.
A dilapidated former warehouse, which has been abandoned for the past two decades, currently occupies the site, located at 38-40 N. Cameron St.
Last month, Dauphin County approved a recommendation that the project receive $125,000 in gaming funds under the Local Share Municipal Grant Program.
The Capital Region Economic Development Corp. (CREDC) had sought $500,000 for the project.
CREDC will actually acquire the land for the project, as well as demolish the existing structure and perform site remediation and preparation, according to the gaming grant application. ABC then would build the new facility at a cost of $550,000.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $1.5 million, said Mark Stewart, solicitor to the Dauphin County Gaming Advisory Board.
In its application, CREDC states that ABC has outgrown its current facility at 50 N. Cameron St.
“To put it in a nutshell, ABC is running out of space due to the increased demand of their product,” says the application.
“The construction of the adjacent warehouse with additional parking is a crucial factor in accommodating the present and future growth of the company.”
Under the current schedule, most of the work would take place in 2013.
Stewart said he was unsure if the project might be delayed because CREDC was awarded just one-quarter of the amount it requested.
He said that CREDC could re-apply for additional gaming funds next year. The project also has received $320,000 in grant money under the state’s Industrial Sites ReUse Program, he said.
ABC owner Artie Tafoya could not be reached for comment.
In all, county commissioners last month approved $ 8.2 million in gaming fund grants throughout the county. In addition to the CREDC/ ABC project, county commissioners voted for following projects in Harrisburg:
- $335,000 to the Harrisburg Fire Bureau for fire engine.
- $250,000 to the Shumaker Public Safety Center on HACC campus for improvements.
- $100,000 to Harrisburg Realty Improvement to continue the upgrade of International House.
- $40,000 to the Tri-County Housing Development Corp. for housing construction on South Allison Hill.
