Rush Township, PA -
Partnership was the word of the day at a public hearing regarding the economic development and community revitalization impact of Pennsylvania's breweries. Held in a roundtable-style format by state Sen. David G. Argall.
Several stakeholders discussed how Yuengling has benefitted the community and how those benefits can be increased. “The good news is I think we've seen some phenomenal growth at Yuengling and we're very curious to see how the community can work with the people at the brewery and family to build on the popularity of this and other state breweries,” Argall said.
Schuylkill County commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said revealing someone is from the city where Yuengling is brewed has an impact worldwide. “The effect Yuengling has is not only on tourism but also on the employment opportunities for people in this area. They take care of their employees very well. It truly is a family. Where Yuengling starts with their family, they expand into families,” Halcovage said.
“The impact it has on Schuylkill County is phenomenal,” county Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier said. Halcovage credited the amount of communication with all parties involved to get Pottsville to where they are now and to keep progressing as one of the factors. “I think there is more communication right now going on between every one of the key partners in this. It's phenomenal,” Halcovage said, referencing a USAToday article where Pottsville was listed among the top 10 places for millennials to live and work.
“Sometimes who we are right here, we don't realize the potential we have and it's a matter of everyone coming together and having that common voice to work toward that. It's going to make things even better than it is right now,” Halcovage said. Jerry Enders, president of the board of directors of the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau, kept it simple. “Tourism is a partnership. The more people partner together, everybody wins. The words all come back to one key word: partnership,” Enders said.
“Without Yuengling in our community, and in Pottsville, our tourism would be very lax. Yuengling plays a major part, not only in their tourism end but in their support of the community. Their fundraising and so many events they help with, to have a partnership like that, tourism thrives and it'll keep thriving and growing and we hope to see Yuengling around for another couple hundred years.”
Overall, Argall was pleased with the meeting, saying he was “very optimistic about the impact this industry can have” because of what other communities have done. “Yuengling's facility in Schuylkill County has helped transform long-abandoned downtown buildings into productive properties and created quality jobs for community residents,” Argall said. “The company has created a positive ripple effect throughout the neighborhood, and their partnership with the local community deserves recognition.”
Dave Casinelli of Yuengling Brewery echoed Argall's remarks about having a ripple effect in the community. “We want to see the whole community rise up. If the community does well, we do well and vice versa,” Casinelli said.
According to Debbie Yuengling, the gift shop receives 70,000 visitors each year and to increase that number, they'll have to take it “one step at a time.”
“I think it's still doing it one step at a time seeing how the progression works with the city and going alongside with them. It's working in progression and right alongside the city,” Yuengling said. “I think the relationship working with the city has been vital to the revitalization downtown. I think the continuation of it is going very well.”
https://www.republicanherald.com/news/business-meeting-puts-focus-on-tourism-economic-growth-1.2365083
