Politics & Government

Dexter Village Council Approves Six-Year Tax Abatement for Northern United Brewing Company

The company is expanding its Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales operation in the village to include a distillery, winery and tasting room.

In its first official action as a new board following the Nov. 6 general election, the Dexter Village Board of Trustees unanimously approved a tax abatement for Northern United Brewing Company.

Northern United, the parent company of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, applied for an industrial facilities tax exemption for six years for $1.5 million in real property and seven years for $1.6 million in personal property.

The company is planning to expand its current operations and expand to 2319 Bishop Circle East in order to build a distillery, winery, and brewery. The annual abatement is approximately $5,330 in real property and $5,490 in personal property taxes from the village, and $21,633 in real property and $22,282 in personal property taxes from Scio Township, the Dexter District Library, Dexter Community Schools, and Washtenaw County Intermediate School District.

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"We really appreciate all the efforts the village has made to support us being here, and we're truly excited to get the operations on the run," Tony Grant, chief financial officer for Northern United Brewing said.

The company is currently moving its brew house from Traverse City to Dexter

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"Most of our facilities improvements — utilities and concrete work — have been completed and we're waiting on our liquor license approval from the state," Grant said.

According to information provided to the council, the expansion is expected to bring 20 jobs to the community.

"The goal of the village's industrial facilities tax abatement program is to encourage new companies to invest in our community and to assist our existing companies as they continue to invest in their business," the village said in a written statement.

By granting the abatement, the village helps relieve the tax burden created by the company's financial investment while still receiving 50 percent of the tax revenue from the investment.

In other action:

  • Dexter Village Trustees Paul Cousins, Joe Semifero and Julie Knight were sworn in as part of the new village council along with Village President Shawn Keough.


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