Over half a million dollars in FedNor funding is helping Gateway City Brewery expand its manufacturing and production capacity.
Anthony Rota, Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming, announced a repayable contribution of $534,422 to expand its product line and increase its revenue stream, while achieving production and distribution efficiencies.
“It is a loan,” he says. “But what it does is it allows them to expand to another level and sometimes that little expansion really does make a difference for businesses and allows them to grow.”
Jeff Hodge, co-founder, says they’ve been using mobile canning for the last five years, but that’s all changing with this announcement.
“The major part of this investment is going to our own canning line,” he says. “It’s an advanced, state-of-the-art canning line which will allow us to can on our own schedule and expand our product line.”
The move is expected to help position the brewery to expand distribution to stores around the north and across Ontario.
Along with creating at least nine jobs in the first three years of the expansion, the modern space will enhance customer experiences and enable Gateway City Brewery to host events.
With files from Bradley Aubin
