ST. MARYS — An update to the Straub Brewery will be connected to the Pennsylvania Wilds.
During Monday’s St. Marys City Council meeting, Vince Assetta, vice president and general manager of Straub Brewery, said a $2 million project will use the Pennsylvania Wilds as its inspiration.
The Eternal Tap at the brewery is a well-known tourist attraction in the region and the renovation will expand on that. The renovation will include creating a visitor’s center, tap room and gift shop at Straub. The upgrade will make the brewery more attractive to tourists planning a visit to the PA Wilds, Assetta said. The company also plans to re-name some of its specialty beers to tie it in with the wilds theme.
Assetta said this plan will increase visitors to the brewery and the region. If there are more places like this to visit in the PA Wilds, visitors are likely to stay longer, spending more money in the region at hotels, restaurants and shops.
Because of Straub’s long history in St. Marys — it’s the third oldest family-owned brewery in the country — he said it is only appropriate that a historical aspect be included in the design as well. Plans are also being made to include a limited food service with indoor and outdoor seating and to do some beautification work on the outside of the building.
Straub will invest $1 million of its own money and combine that with $1 million in money from Rural Community Assistance Program, a state program. Because there is grant money involved a non-profit organization must be in place to ensure the money is being spent properly. The brewery has partnered with the Progress Fund.
The Progress Fund will receive the grant from the state, which is to be used for projects aimed at increasing tourism. David Kahley, the president of the Progress Fund, said the brewery did all of the leg work to get the grant and it will simply pass through the organization. The state also requires a municipality to agree to pay if the money isn’t spent properly.
Kahley said this is a reimbursement grant, meaning the money must be spent before it can be reimbursed so the risk of something happening is very low. He said in 12 years he has never had the state ask for a dime back.
The project was being presented to the council, but no decisions needed to be made Monday night.
