MICROBREWERIES DON'T JUST IMPROVE A CITY'S SOCIAL SCENE … THEY HAVE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT AS WELL. SO SAYS DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR TIM KELLER OF ALBUQUERQUE ON WHY HE INTRODUCED A BILL TO ESTABLISH A BREWERY DISTRICT IN ALBUQUERQUE. IT PASSED IN THE SENATE THURSDAY.
KELLER TELLS 770 KKOB THE CLUSTER OF BREWERIES ARE ALL IN THE SAME AREA … AND HAVE HELPED ADDRESS ANOTHER ISSUE IN ALBUQUERQUE. HE SAYS THE AREA WHERE THE BREWERIES ARE LOCATED WERE AREAS WITH VACANT BUILDINGS AND NO JOB GROWTH. HE SAYS THE AREA IS NOW VIBRANT BECAUSE THE BREWERIES MOVED IN.
KELLER SAYS SUCH REVITALIZATION HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOODS. HE ALSO SAYS THE BREWERIES CREATE JOBS AND HE CAN SEE BREWERY DISTRICTS CROPPING UP IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE WITH SIMILAR VACANCY ISSUES.
