Commission hears Long Road Distillers expansion request; hearing closed and referred to Committee of the Whole

The Grand Rapids City Commission took public testimony Jan. 27 on requests from Long Road Distillers to establish an industrial development district at 1750 Elizabeth Ave NW and to approve an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate to support facility upgrades and new equipment.

Economic development staff explained the project would consolidate and expand production capacity at a roughly 20,000‑square‑foot facility and allow installation of a canning line for ready‑to‑drink products. Staff presented estimated real property improvement costs (reported in the staff remarks as about $679,727) and new equipment investment (approximately $139,125). Former Commissioner John O’Connor spoke on behalf of the applicant, saying the business had outgrown its current West Side operations and that the new facility would bring more operations under one roof.

Public testimony was mixed. A local pastor urged the commission to oppose the proposal over concerns about alcohol’s neighborhood impacts; other speakers, including a former colleague and commissioner, praised Long Road’s neighborhood investment and supported the expansion. After public testimony, the president closed the hearing and referred both items to the Committee of the Whole for further deliberation.

Next steps: The referral sends both the industrial development district and the exemption certificate application to the Committee of the Whole for additional review. No final action on the certificates or tax incentives was taken at the Jan. 27 meeting.