PORTLAND, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) delivered the lunchtime keynote address at the New England Craft Brew Summit at the University of Southern Maine in Portland where he applauded Maine’s craft brewing industry for its positive impact in supporting and strengthening the state’s local economies and communities.

“The creative minds in Maine’s craft brewing industry continue to build on what is an already thriving part of our local economy,” Senator King said. “Through their hard work and innovation, our craft brewers are creating jobs, driving economic development, and attracting beer enthusiasts from around the world to visit Maine. This summit is a landmark moment in the growth of small breweries in our state and across New England, and I commend everyone involved for their work to ensure an even brighter future for this important industry and the many communities it helps support.”

The New England Craft Brew Summit is an all-day event at the Abromson Center at the University of Southern Maine that brings together experts, industry leaders, vendors and brewmasters from around New England to discuss business and technical opportunities for craft brewers. It is New England’s inaugural craft beer industry trade show and educational event. While at USM, Senator King also toured the school’s Quality Assurance/Quality Control and Research Laboratory, a public-private partnership with the Maine Brewers’ Guild aimed at helping the local craft beer industry with analysis, testing, and training.

In the Senate, Senator King has been a strong supporter of Maine’s craft brewing industry. He is an original cosponsor of the Small BREW Act, legislation introduced by Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) that would reduce the federal excise tax on small craft brewers and change the definition of a small brewer to better reflect modern production levels. Senator King has also defended Maine’s craft brewers in the face of the merger of two larger beer conglomerates, urging the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether it would crowd out competition and hamper the growth of small breweries.

According to the Brewers Association, Maine craft brewers have an economic impact of $432 million. There are more than 70 licensed breweries in the state, according to the Maine Brewers’ Guild.

Earlier today, Senator King also attended a HUBZone Small Business Seminar at Brunswick Landing hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The seminar was held to educate and train small businesses in the Midcoast area about the HUBZone program and its benefits to small businesses competing in the federal marketplace. Last year, Senator King worked with the other members of the Maine delegation on a successful effort to amend current law and expand the program's impact, which will help draw more jobs to the region. Specifically, Senator King authored a provision that passed as part of the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act that expands the eligibility criteria of HUBZones located at former U.S. military installations closed through the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, such as the former Brunswick Naval Air Station (now Brunswick Landing). The provision expands the HUBZone's boundaries to allow businesses to draw employees from surrounding areas to meet the program's 35 percent employee residency requirement, which will encourage business growth and job creation in areas such as Midcoast Maine.‎

Senator King also joined an SBA Press Conference in Portland to recognize MaineWorks founder Margo Walsh as the SBA’s Maine Small Business Person of the Year.

MaineWorks is a Portland-based company that helps match industrial clients with workers who would otherwise struggle with barriers to employment.

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