John Saraceno (left) owner of the Cortland Brewing Company and County Legislator Richard Stock (R) 6th District Stand Outside the Brewing Company Discussing Recent Investments Into the Brewery
Cortland-The Cortland Beer Company (CBC) and Distillery has been a part of Historic Downtown Cortland for over a decade now. Over the years the business has grown to include a Farm Distillery and Cidery license and produces multiple beers, seltzers, ciders, spirits and more. The Court Street brewery also serves as a popular music venue with both indoor and outdoor stages and an outdoor courtyard area that offers seating and firepits perfect for gathering on cool nights.
CBC was recently awarded a $10,000 grant under the Cortland Business Development Corporations (BDC) Small Business Expansion program and used those funds to purchase a $27,000 canning machine. Prior to the purchase CBC had relied on an out-of-state mobile canning company to package its products. The subcontractor required a minimum of 5,000 cans which requires 1200 gallons of product. According to CBC owner John Saraceno, “CBC can produce these quantities, but it did not allow for small specialty batch production and made the business less flexible to new product lines.”
Saraceno added, “in house canning offers our customers a fresher product and opens the business to new product lines, Saraceno went on to say, “having access to the grant funds made this investment significantly easier.”
CBC is now canning mixed cocktails using vodka from his distilling operations which has created a new product line and he is currently experimenting with a new fermented alcohol beverage that could be canned and sold in grocery stores alongside the CBC beer brands.
Saraceno sees a bright future ahead and plans to continue investing in the brewery with plans for a proposed rooftop bar and environmentally friendly rain garden. He is also looking to improve the atmosphere around the brewery with the construction of a new three season outdoor music pavilion.
The partnership between the BDC and CBC is yet another great example of COVID rescue dollars being used to strengthen local small business.
Note: The Cortland County Business Development Corporation is publishing a series of stories highlighting the small businesses that received funding from Cortland County’s American Rescue funds allocation. The BDC was tasked with distributing $600,000 in funds to qualified small businesses.
