Senator Bonacic spoke at a ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday in the City of Middletown, where he joined local officials in welcoming Clemson Brothers Brewery to the city. The brewery, located at the old Clemson Brothers Building on Cottage Street in Middletown, hopes to produce about 1,000 barrels of beer in their first year, and joins a growing beverage industry in NY. The craft beer industry in New York State has an annual economic impact of $3.5 billion, and is responsible for almost 12,000 jobs.  Clemson Brothers hopes to not only create jobs, but attract visitors to the city. Clemson Brothers Brewery is owned and operated by Kenneth and Jacinda Porter and their son Kenan. The Porter family contributed $2.3 million dollars of private capital for this project.

Pictured L-R are, Jacinda Porter, Kenneth Porter, Kenan Porter, Senator Bonacic, City of Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus, and City of Middletown Common Council President, J. Miguel Rodrigues.