For Anaconda Small Businesses, Tester Announces $28,000 Grant

Anaconda Local Development Corporation will use funds to help Smelter City Brewing purchase new fermenters

U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced today that the Anaconda Local Development Corporation will receive a $28,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Program to help Smelter City Brewing in Anaconda purchase new equipment.

“I’m proud to support the folks at Anaconda Local Development Corporation, who work hard every day to help Anaconda’s small businesses thrive,” Tester said. “It’s no secret I enjoy a cold Montana beer, and I’m excited to see Smelter City Brewing grow their business so more Montanans can enjoy their products.”

This grant will allow Smelter City Brewing to purchase three new brew tanks, increasing production capacity and allowing distribution to larger regional markets in Helena, Bozeman, and Missoula.

Senator Tester is committed to growing Montana’s thriving small business community. Senator Tester sponsored bipartisan legislation to create more jobs for Montana breweries and distilleries by cutting excuse taxes, speeding up label regulations, and reducing the time it takes to get products on the shelves. He also introduced the Stop Taxing Our Potential Act (STOP), which would overturn a Supreme Court decision that forces local business to collect sales tax on behalf of other states and is highly unpopular among small business owners in Montana.