New Belgium To Invest $175 Million In Asheville, NC

ASHEVILLE, N.C., March 11, 2013 /mbb/ — The Economic Development Coalition (EDC) for Asheville and Buncombe County has struck big with popular Colorado beer leaders, New Belgium Brewing Company.

The craft brewery plans to invest $175 million over the course of seven years to revitalize nearly 20 acres of former hub of commerce land into a state-of-the-art brewery on Craven Street.

For the city of Asheville, brewing is nothing new; on the other hand, New Belgium’s expansion will be an agile player in strengthening the area’s business development and employment rate. By 2020, the expansion will have created 154 new jobs that average an annual wage exceeding $50,000, plus benefits. In addition, it will support 260 indirect and induced jobs between industry vendors and suppliers.

"After several years of searching we are incredibly excited to have landed in Asheville," said Kim Jordan , CEO and co-founder of New Belgium. "From the deep sense of community to the rich natural environment and the opportunity to revitalize a brownfield site near a vibrant downtown, Asheville has everything we’ve been looking for in a location for our second brewery."

For years, the city has been working to redevelop the River Arts district. Now the efforts are finally being met by companies like New Belgium that share in their vision for economic development. NC is quickly becoming the east coast’s most suitable state for expanding or starting a beer business.
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