Liquor board approves $1.8M in grants for Pennsylvania-made malt, brewed beverages

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) recently approved $1.8 million in grants for 21 projects within the beer industry across the commonwealth.

Under Act 39 of 2016, the PLCB can approve up to $1 million annually for the development and marketing of the Pennsylvania beer industry and an additional up to $1 million annually for wine research and promotion. Unallocated beer grant funds can be made available in subsequent years.

In this most recent round of funding, PLCB awarded $990,662 in Pennsylvania Wine Marketing and Research Board funding to nine wine projects and $798,262 in Pennsylvania Malt and Brewed Beverages Industry Promotion Board to 12 beer projects.

The Pennsylvania Winery Association was awarded $341,133 to promote and market to wine enthusiasts to educate consumers about the diversity of the state’s wine industry.

Deer Creek Malthouse was awarded $149,951 for a project designed to build the grain brand through education, networking, and direct-to-consumer marketing.

CCI Communications was awarded $113,960 for the What’s Brewing television series promoting Pennsylvania’s evolving craft brewing industry.

Pennsylvania State University was awarded $116,600 for a project examining how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed consumer behaviors. Researchers will develop recommendations for how the wine industry can effectively target new consumer needs.