The city of Canal Winchester announced the addition of popular craft brewery, BrewDog, to its growing list of local businesses.
BrewDog is set to open its North American headquarters and first production facility outside the United Kingdom in Canal Winchester on 42 acres located at 96 Gender Road next year.
BrewDog’s investment in the brewing facility in the Columbus region will total $30.4 million, including the construction of a 100,000 square foot facility in Canal Winchester, to be completed by August 2016. The project will initially create 115 new living wage jobs. Noting the site’s existing utility offerings and location, BrewDog plans the Canal Winchester facility to be the main brewing site for all BrewDog USA beer production and will offer a restaurant, taproom and visitor center on-site.
The brewery, after revealing preliminary plans for its U.S. expansion earlier this month, received unprecedented response.
According to a statement from BrewDog, “The people of Ohio have absolutely bowled us over with their enthusiasm, passion for beer and warm welcome! Their reaction has been incredible, and confirms we have made the right choice with where we’ll lay the foundations for our American home.”
“Since learning of the potential project a few weeks ago, Canal Winchester residents have become very excited about Brewdog,” said Canal Winchester Mayor Michael Ebert. “We look forward to working with them and are happy they chose Canal Winchester as their U.S. headquarters and their first production facility in the U.S. This project is not only a great manufacturing project for our community, but also will prove to be a major draw for tourism that will benefit the entire region.”
The city of Canal Winchester will support the project with a 15 year, 100 percent property tax exemption on the value of the building improvements, an incentive worth an estimated $2.7 million over the 15 year term. Canal Winchester will also waive more than $325,000 in utility capacity and building permit fees to support the job creation and investment in the community.
Growing from two men based in a shed in northeast Scotland in 2007, BrewDog has become the the U.K.’s fastest-growing food and drinks brand, opening 28 bars worldwide since 2010, now exporting to 55 countries and employing more than 365 staff. It announced its sixth consecutive year of record growth earlier this year, having increased its annual turnover by 63 percent.
Economic development partners in the project include the city of Canal Winchester, Columbus 2020, and JobsOhio. The launch of BrewDog USA will initially serve the U.S. market with potential to export to other countries, producing more than 85,200 barrels in its first year of production, and increasing capacity in coming years to reach 852,000 barrels. Hiring for the brewery’s USA site will begin in 2016 and will include positions in production, sales and management.
