June 2020
Welcome to the first industry newsletter of the Michigan Craft Beverage Council. This newsletter comes at a time when the sharing of resources, news, and opportunities are critical to the future of business.
The Michigan Craft Beverage Council supports a hard-working, collaborative industry with deep agricultural roots. Industry-led and engaged, our work connects growers and producers, guides important research, and promotes Michigan as a world-class craft beverage destination. We also leverage organizational, supply chain and agricultural partnerships - crafting connections from the ground up.
Thank you for your interest in receiving this communication and please share with others.
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
Business Resources
Resources for businesses across Michigan struggling with economic losses as a result of the COVID-19 virus can be found online at michiganbusiness.org/covid19. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has also developed a FAQ for Michigan businesses and communities at michiganbusiness.org/covid19-faq.
PPE
With efforts to reengage Michigan’s economy underway, the MEDC has developed a portal specifically designed to support the personal protective equipment (PPE) needs of Michigan businesses as they start the process of reopening. Businesses can access PMBC’s COVID-19 Procurement Platform to search or list PPE items.
This past January, Michigan Craft Beverage Council approved a total of $431,052 in project funding for the FY20 grant program. Funding for the grant program is currently secure and the work is expected to continue into the next 18 months, as allowable given social distancing restrictions. View funded projects and FY20 research priorities. A press release detailing this record funding amount is available here.
2019 grant projects are continuing with a few extensions being put into place as needed. Our team is trying to be flexible with consideration to how COVID-19 and social distancing measures affect the research that is being done.
Final reports for MCBC funded research are available and easily searchable by author, category, keyword and many other factors at https://michigancraftbeverage.com/research/research-database
What research would you like to see funded by the Council? Respond to our poll!
USDA-NASS is conducting a survey of Michigan hop and grape growers in 2020. The survey data obtained will provide important agricultural statistics such as acreage, regional concentration of crops, and varieties planted. USDA-NASS is accepting surveys through July and we encourage all growers to participate. This is the first time that Michigan has been included in the national hops study, so this is a big deal. Grapes were last surveyed in 2016, resulting in 3,050 acres of wine grape vineyards statewide.
If you have questions, please contact Marty Saffel, marty.saffell@usda.gov. Include your name and address in an email to Marty if you are looking for a replacement copy of the survey and postage paid business reply envelope.
Thank you to all growers that have already participated in the survey. This survey is funded through a Specialty Crop Block Grant.
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is co-hosting a Virtual Job Fair on June 24th from 1-3:30pm to connect job seekers and food and agricultural industry employers. Job seekers will be able to chat with employers directly and make connections based on skills and available positions. Employers and job seekers are encouraged sign up for this no-cost event. Job seekers will register at https://app.brazenconnect.com/a/Michigan/e/XbAAM. Interested employers may register and direct questions to Ashley Batteen at 517-290-0041 or batteena@michigan.gov.
Virtual Job Fair events are hosted on the Brazen platform by MDARD and are made possible thanks to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Employment and Training.
In order to help support connections between crafters, suppliers and growers, Michigan Craft Beverage Council is hosting a marketplace. Submitting an entry is free and self-submitted, requiring only a quick approval from our team. Although we will allow certain supplies and equipment to be submitted from out-of-state companies, we are only allowing Michigan-grown agriculture. View the Marketplace now to see what products are available.
When you have news to share, please add MDARD-CraftBev@michigan.gov to your media list. Press releases can be added to our website and news can be promoted on our social media channels. View Michigan craft beverage news.
Great Lakes International Cider Competition Postponed
The Great Lakes International Cider Competition typically takes place each May in Grand Rapids in coordination with Cider Week events. Events were cancelled this year due to COVID-19 and competition orrganizers hope that the competition can take place later this year. Stay posted on the competition by following Gintcap.org.
Michigan Wine Month Challenge
The Michigan Wine Collaborative organized numerous activities to celebrate May is Michigan Wine Month. This included a Michigan Wine Month Challenge partnership which raised more than $10,000 for the Hospitality Industry Employee Relief Fund organized through the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association. Read more about this partnership here.
Michigan Brewers Guild News Includes a New Podcast
The 2020 edition of The Great Beer State, coordinated by Michigan Brewers Guild, has been released. The magazine features news about the brewing community, a brewery guide, and a map. The magazine can be viewed digitally.
Michigan Brewers Guild has launched a weekly podcast. Michigan’s Great Beer State Podcast shares conversations and stories from the passionate people who contribute to a vibrant Michigan beer community. Three episodes are currently available on multiple outlets including Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, TuneIn, Player.FM, Podbean, Blurbrry and Stitcher, as well as being uploaded to the MBG YouTube channel in video format. Learn more here.
Thank You to the Producers of Sanitizer
As COVID-19 changed nearly everything about the way the world was conducting business, many Michigan distillers shifted production immediately to sanitizer, which was vital to a fragile health and economic infrastructure. Numerous distilleries provided sanitizer to the front line workers in their communities. Thank you to all that contribute to the health and safety of Michigan during this crisis. Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development captured this video of business doing just this in the Lansing area.
The Michigan Craft Beverage Council is a 10-member, Governor-appointed board that is advisory to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and was established in 2018 to provide for research, marketing and promotion of Michigan agricultural products that are used in the production of Michigan craft beverages.
Meet our Council members!
Learn more about program activities, which include connecting researchers, growers, producers and consumers at michigancraftbeverage.com.
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