Samuel Adams Expands Philanthropy Initiative

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According to PR Newswire, Samuel Adams has announced that it is expanding its philanthropy initiative, Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream, to home brewers and small craft brewers nationwide. The initiative focuses on helping up-and-coming brewers turn their passion for beer into successful businesses, and the program will focus funding of at least $100,000 to the craft brewing industry in 2011.

The initiative is part of Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream, which supports small business owners in the food, beverage and hospitality industry by providing accessible financing, as well as business and financial literacy tools and assistance. Small brewers can apply for loans ranging from $500 to $25,000 to be used for a variety of business purposes including expansion, equipment, and marketing, with all loan payments recycled back into the fund.

“Our goal with the craft brewing component of Brewing the American Dream is to support small business owners in our niche of the industry who are facing the same hurdles around starting or expanding their nano or microbrewery that I faced when I started brewing Samuel Adams in my kitchen in 1984,” said Jim Koch, brewer and founder of Samuel Adams.

Samuel Adams will also offer a select brewer the chance to receive a year-long “Brewing & Business Experienceship,” which is designed to focus on different aspects of the beer business. The Experienceship will provide the up-and-coming brewer extended coaching tailored around his or her specific areas of interest from Samuel Adams employees.

The initiative is also expanding into New York City, with the goal of providing lower income small businesses in the food, beverage and hospitality sectors with accessible financing as well as business and financial literacy tools and assistance. The program expanded its reach this past February to owners in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania and Ohio.