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It’s one step closer to “up, up and away” for Hot Air Brewing with the award of a $100,000 community catalyst grant.
They hope to open in time for Thanksgiving, Hot Air Brewing co-owner Katie Davidson with husband Andy Rullestad said, but that is dependent on receiving the grant funds in timely manner, adding more participants to their founder program, getting equipment financed and installed and having time to brew enough beer.
“We would need at least two months to brew up enough stock to open with,” she said.
Rullestad started brewing trial batches of beer last weekend. The 10-gallon system will allow him to refine the recipes and techniques as well as quality control before they install the 120-gallon system and begin brewing in large batches.
“When we get our bigger equipment, we’ll be in a better position to get to brewing on it right away,” Davidson said.
Davidson sees this project as a benefit for Uptown Creston’s development.
“I would love to be open in time for people coming home for Thanksgiving so they could come see Hot Air, The Bookwyrm, Create Creston, Coen’s — everything that’s had work done on it in the last few years and everything that’s gotten a facade grant.”
Grant
The community catalyst grant is funded by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and is given for projects to revitalize a community or repair existing buildings. Davidson’s plan is to do both. The building at 212 N. Maple St. has new windows in the back as well as considerable interior work to create an owner apartment in the rear of the building. Work is still being completed on the brewery to be housed in the commercial section of the building.
The grant can only be used for permanent improvements to the building, in this case to replace windows in the upper floor apartments and to help install a heating and cooling system.
Davidson and Rullestad worked with Southern Iowa Council of Governments to apply for the grant. She credits Jeremy Rounds for getting the paperwork together.
“Jeremy Rounds at SICOG did most of the work,” Davidson said. “Basically what I did was send him an executive summary on ‘why this business,’ ‘why Creston’ ‘why us’ and some very loose projections. .... Jeremy definitely deserves some accolades for what he does.”
The city of Creston is the actual recipient of the grant. It has not yet been determined who will administer the funds and collect the receipts.
In order for Hot Air Brewing and the city to be eligible for the $100,000 grant, the city had to provide matching funding or in-kind work. This $125,000 funding is being accomplished through Tax Increment Financing and the SICOG Housing Trust Fund. Davidson and Rullestad will provide the remaining funds of $165,000 or more to complete the project.
“The city council is truly committed to downtown revitalization,” City Administrator Mike Taylor said. “Their investment in Hot Air Brewing is but one of the many projects happening in downtown Creston. This grant is the catalyst we need to continue major downtown revitalization efforts.”
Davidson hopes that other community members will see that Hot Air Brewing received this grant and be inspired to apply for next year. She said she was encouraged by Dyersville’s receipt of the grant for two years in a row.
“People should still apply for next year if they want to, ... now there’s precedent that other communities get more than one in consecutive years.” Davidson said.