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Through the program, the craft brewery received a $100,000 matching grant from the state Department of Economic Development to use as working capital to increase inventory, improve marketing and grow sales efforts, a statement from the governor’s office said. Half Full also created five new jobs and retained two with the help of the grant, the statement said.
“My sleeping patterns have changed,” brewery owner Conor Horrigan said, explaining how a burden was lifted from him with the increased capital.
The grant will help him further grow the brewery by allowing him to have more people to introduce Half Full’s story and the beer to potential customers without them walking into the brewery, Horrigan said.
The legislature passed the Small Business Express Program in October 2011 with a $100 million investment, and it has funded 598 applications for about $80 million, the statement said. The program is expected to create and retain more than 7,600 jobs and leveraged about $50 million in private funding, the statement said.
The state legislature is considering a bill that would add $60 million to the program, the statement said.
“We are moving to get the job picture a little brighter,” Malloy said during his tour and tasting. New businesses and small businesses are the “sweet spot” for job growth, he said.
Half Full Brewery is located at 43 Homestead Ave. in the city’s Waterside neighborhood. It is open 4 to 7 p.m. for growler fills and samplings and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday for tastings and a 3 p.m. tour. It holds open houses on every other Friday, its website said.
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