$15k Coming To Morris County Brewery

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A local Morris County craft brewery specializing in German wheat beer received a $15,000 check from the Morris County Small Business Grant Program today, as the Morris County Board of County Commissioners continues to assist businesses and nonprofits impacted by the pandemic.

High Point Brewing Company, which opened in 1994 and has its original flagship location at 14 Kiel Avenue in Butler, was visited by Commissioner Stephen Shaw.

Shaw presented the $15,000 grant check to Gregory Zaccardi, President and Owner of High Point Brewing.

“We very much appreciate this. Thank you,” Zaccardi said.

Zaccardi said he vividly remembered the day in March 2020 when the pandemic resulted in a state order shutting down all breweries – just as his spring season was about to begin.

“At that point in time, 80 percent of our business was to restaurants and bars, draft beer to restaurants and bars. So, overnight, we lost 80 percent of our customers without warning. The breweries during Prohibition had more warning than we did,” Zaccardi said. “The community helped us out, and we had people coming in ordering by the case. We also developed relationships with stores in the area. It was tough. There were days we were going, ‘I don’t know how we are going to do this.’ But after two years, and the restaurants and bars opening up, we are doing well.”

Morris County Commissioners are personally delivering the grant checks to learn more about small business struggles, to see if the grant program can be improved and to spread the word that the program is still open.

The grant program was established by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners using pandemic relief funds provided by the American Rescue Plan Act. The majority of applications awaiting final approval will award each qualified business and nonprofit the maximum grant amount of $15,000.

The Small Business Grant Program eligibility requirements include, but are not limited to:

• Business has 25 or fewer full-time employees (or equivalent)
• In operation since Jan. 1, 2019
• Located within Morris County
• Less than $5 million in sales/revenue
• Proof of a decline in sales/increased expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic

To apply, go to morriscountysmallbusinessgrant.com.