Groundbreaking was held today for the Eco-Brewery District project at the Genesee Brewery on St. Paul Street in Rochester.
It's a five year, $50 million dollar project.
Phase one includes demolition of outdoor fermentation tanks and various equipment inside, and construction and installation of the new brewing system, while Phase 2 features expansion of the Genesee Brew House.
The project is designed to help Genesee be more competitive, to create jobs and secure the legacy for brewing in this community, according to North American breweries CEO Kris Sirchio.
"The more we can get people to reconnect with the history and innovation of Genesee, the better it is for our community and our environment, and we'll be able to create more jobs and a legacy here for generations to come," he said.
Sirchio says the Eco-Brewery District is a commitment to the community that they are brewing in an economical but sustainable way, and with North American Breweries a "triple bottom line" company, and they focus on people, planet and profits.
Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren says this project is all about jobs.
"This is about growing the economy here in Rochester and also making sure that people have a job where they could feed their family," she said.
Regional Director for Empire State Development, Vinnie Esposito, says the state has invested $9.5 million dollars in Phase two.
He says the project creates manufacturing jobs, invests private dollars into the community, and improves upon the historic High Falls District.
"As well as making a commitment to hiring people impacted by poverty, which is not something that should go overlooked with the history of Genesee Brewing and North American Breweries in this neighborhood, the history of the people they hire, and the future of the people they hire," he said.
The project is expected to create 128 new jobs, including 64 for people coming out of poverty.
Here's CEO Kris Sirchio with today's announcement (video by Marty Kaufman) :