Michigan’s Thumb Area Rolls Out Welcome Mat for Micro Brews; Federal and State Government Kicks in With Pro Industry Legislation

BAD AXE, Mich. and PORT AUSTIN, Mich., May 03, 2018 -- Michigan’s Thumb Area, Bad Axe and Port Austin, known for its breath-taking sunrises, miles of pristine beaches located on Lake Huron of the Great Lakes, is rolling out the welcome wagon to industries dependent on water such as the State’s burgeoning Craft Beer Industry and lawmakers at both the State and Federal Level are chiming in with pro industry laws.

Four years ago, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed bipartisan legislation that among other things doubled the amount of beer microbrewers may produce from 30,000 barrels per year to 60,000; allows microbrew owners to have interest in five other pubs as long as the annual production does not exceed 18K barrels per year, and finally allows smaller microbrewers who produce less than 1000 barrels per year to distribute directly to retailers under certain conditions.

At that time, Michigan had the fifth largest number of brewpubs and microbreweries in the U.S.

Now, late last year, Federal Lawmakers passed the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act which lowers federal excise tax for small and medium size brewers.

"According to Carl Osentoski, Huron Regional Development Director, the relatively new water plant built in 2005 and jointly owned by Port Austin and Bad Axe, currently has over 1/2 billion gallons annually of the finest quality H2O in Michigan, available for microbreweries and other industries requiring the highest quality water for their products.

“Besides the fresh, quality water we have rail for water shipping along with truck and air transportation, labor and land available. We have the resources and infrastructure required by certain industries.”

 Osentoski noted that the area has developed a Huron Regional Water Task Force to help search out potential businesses in these industries.”

Among the other industries the HRWTF will be targeting are:

• Microbreweries
  • Distilleries
• Soft Drink Beverage Industry
• Regional Water Bottlers

• Green Houses
• Food Processors for canned vegetables
• Livestock Industry

• Other industries that rely on a sustainable supply of high quality water

The Great Lakes represent 95 percent of the fresh water supply in the U.S.  Lake Huron is the fifth largest freshwater lake in the world and borders Michigan which is shaped like a mitten. The Port Austin/ Bad Axe area is at the “tip” of the Thumb.

Additional information is available at www.thumbwater.com

CONTACT: CARL OSENTOSKI, 989-269-6431            OR FRED KENDALL, 616-283-0008