McAuliffe announces nearly $9 million expansion of Manassas craft brewery

Another brewery is expanding its operation in Virginia, thanks to state help.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe's office announced Wednesday that Heritage Brewing plans to spend $8.9 million and create 66 new jobs to expand its craft brewery in Manassas.

The state is providing a $250,000 grant, which the city of Manassas will match. The Virginia Jobs Investment Program will provide additional support.

Heritage has quickly become one of the state's largest craft breweries since opening in 2013.

McAuliffe has made promoting the craft beer industry in Virginia an economic top priority. Earlier this summer, he announced that Virginia is now home to 206 licensed breweries, moving ahead of neighboring state North Carolina.

And according to a newly-released economic impact study, Virginia’s booming beer industry contributes more than $9.34 billion annually to Virginia’s economy.

Reports also show that the Virginia beer industry employed more 28,000 people in production, retail and distribution in 2016.

According to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, between 2011 and 2015, the number of barrels produced in the state increased by nearly 350 percent. On a visit to Pale Fire Brewing Co. in Harrisonburg, Gov. McAuliffe spoke with WHSV.

"Listen, I'm a huge supporter of our craft brew industry," Gov. McAuliffe said. "We have 275 wineries, and we have about 40 cideries now, so we are really taking off, but the craft brewery industry here in Virginia is taking it to another level"

And, as the industry booms, Harrisonburg and Staunton have been

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Craft brewing is a booming industry in Virginia. You can learn all about Virginia's booming beer business in a

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