THE BUSINESS OF BREWING SUCCESS
When Joshua Bennett acquired Greenbrier Valley Brewing, he had a clear vision for the company: a West Virginia-owned-and-operated business that creates products and experiences people are proud to support. As founder, owner and CEO of Hawk Knob Appalachian Hard Cider, Bennett brought years of industry knowledge, operating experience and confidence and an impressive track record. One thing he did not have was working capital, and a traditional lending model would not suffice for the vision. This was one of the biggest challenges for Bennett, but the West Virginia Capital Access Program( WVCAP) became a source of support for growing the business.
“ WVCAP represented an opportunity to bridge that gap. The program existed specifically to support West Virginia businesses with strong potential that needed flexible capital solutions to move forward,” says Bennett.“ That support allowed us to focus on rebuilding operations, restoring momentum and investing in growth instead of limiting decisions based solely on short-term constraints.”
WVCAP, managed by the West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust( WVJIT), provided matching capital to SR & S Beverage Co. LLC, owned and operated by Bennett, the parent company of Greenbrier Valley Brewing. Bennett worked with Woodlands Community Lenders and explained that the partnership was essential in navigating the funding process during the transitional period.
“ The partnership recognized operational experience, growth potential and community impact alongside financial considerations,” says Bennett.“ Instead of replacing traditional lenders, they complemented them and helped make projects possible that otherwise may not have moved forward.”
The experience was different from that of traditional lenders. As traditional lenders typically focus on existing collateral and track records, Woodlands Community Lenders looked at the broader picture.
“ Working with Woodlands felt different from a typical financing relationship because they took time to understand
info @ woodlandswv. org | woodlandswv. org |( 304) 404-2300 316 Railroad Ave., Suite 310, Elkins, WV 26241
Josh @ hawkknob. com | GVBC. BEER 862 Industrial Park Rd, Maxwelton, WV 24957