$2m expansion grant to Founders Brewing

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A $2 million grant will enable Founders Brewing Company to add 52 jobs over three years as part of a $26 million expansion of the Grand Rapids-based brewer.

The performance-based grant was approved by the Michigan Business Development Program in collaboration with The Right Place.

Most of the jobs will be in operations and service, a release said.

Of the $26 million, more than $22 million will be used to buy new brewing equipment, with $4 million spent on expanding the facility at 235 Grandville Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids.

The City of Grand Rapids also recently offered a 12-year, $300,000  property tax abatement for the project.

"The craft beer market continues to grow," Mike Stevens, President and CEO, Founders Brewing Company President/CEO Mike Stevens said in a statement. "We are grateful for this incentive assistance, which will allow us to keep up with demand and to be in a position to hire more people to help us grow the brewery."

The expansion will take place in phases.