USA, SC: Stone Brewing Company not to build new facility in South Carolina

Stone Brewing Company will not build a new production facility in South Carolina, WLTX reported on July 25.

South Carolina Commerce Department officials confirmed reports that the brewer decided against sites in our state that included Lexington and Greenville.

Stone Brewing Company is the 10th largest brewer in the nation and is looking to add a facility closer to the East Coast. The facility is expected to bring around $31 million in investments from Stone and could deliver 400 new jobs for the state that lands the deal.

South Carolina lawmakers passed what was dubbed as the "Stone Bill" this session to lure the company. The change in law allows breweries to sell unlimited quantities of beer on sites with restaurant service. The new law also allows brewers to sell beverages other than their own beer. Previous laws limited how much beer a brewery could sell on site.

Allison Skipper, Director of Marketing Communications at the Commerce Department, said in an email: "I will say that because of the new law passed this session, South Carolina is now well-positioned to win these kinds of projects in the future. Also, the law enables our existing brewing businesses to have additional expansion options, which supports new jobs and brings economic impact to our state."

30 July, 2014