Golden Meets with Waldo County Brewers to Cut Red Tape, Collect Feedback on Small Business Regulations

BELFAST — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) was in Waldo County today to meet with local brewery owners to discuss ways to cut red tape for Maine’s burgeoning craft brewing industry and collect feedback on how existing small business regulations are affecting brewers in the state. The congressman was joined on his tour by Louie Luchini, the New England Region Advocate for the U.S. Small Business Administration. 

“Across Maine, breweries are helping many rural communities revitalize downtowns, create jobs, and provide community gathering places, in addition to an impact of hundreds of millions of dollars on Maine’s economy,” said Golden. “But like many industries in our state, federal regulations and bureaucracy are too often holding them back from reaching their full potential. I was happy to sit down with Waldo County brewers and SBA Region 1 Advocate Luchini to discuss ways we can work with them to cut red tape and make agencies more responsive to their needs.”

The congressman met with owners of breweries in Belfast and Liberty. As SBA Region 1 Advocate, Luchini collects feedback from and advocates on behalf of small businesses in New England before the federal government.

Since his election to Congress, Golden has been a champion of rural small business owners and brewers. In 2019, he cosponsored the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2019 which would permanently lower the excise tax rates on craft brewers and distillers. Language from this bill was ultimately passed as part of the COVID relief package passed in December 2020. As the Chairman of the Underserved, Agricultural, and Rural Business Development Subcommittee, Golden has consistently advocated for resources and support for small businesses. In April, the House of Representatives passed Golden’s bipartisan legislation to help more small businesses across the country launch, grow, and retain workers through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program. 

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