Partnership with The Culinary Institute of America to Develop Curriculum, Certification Programs, Workshops, Special Events and Tastings
At an event with The Culinary Institute of America, Empire State Development (ESD) President, CEO, & Commissioner Howard Zemsky welcomed premier Japanese sake brewery Asahi Shuzo to the Hudson Valley. A landmark partnership between Asahi Shuzo and The Culinary Institute of America, the world’s premier culinary college, will establish New York’s largest sake brewery and the first sake brewery in the Hudson Valley. As part of the collaboration, Asahi Shuzo will build its first U.S. brewery in Hyde Park, less than a mile from The CIA campus. Construction on the new brewery - located at the corner of Route 9 and St. Andrews Road - is anticipated to commence in spring 2018, with a scheduled opening in early 2019. At full capacity, the brewery will produce 332,640 gallons of sake a year.
“New York’s thriving craft beverage community is an engine for job creation, tourism, and regional economic growth,” said ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky. “Asahi Shuzo’s expansion into the Hudson Valley builds on New York’s national and international leadership in this industry.”
Asahi Shuzo International Co., Ltd., maker of world-renowned DASSAI premium Junmai Daiginjo sake, will collaborate with The CIA to further the education and awareness of sake within the United States. The CIA—with the support of Asahi Shuzo—will develop curriculum, certification programs, workshops, and special events and tastings.
“Asahi Shuzo International Company is a leader in its field, carefully combining both tradition and cutting-edge technology to craft its premium quality beverage,” said CIA President Dr. Tim Ryan. “We are honored that they chose to build their first U.S. operation in The CIA’s backyard, and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.”
“When looking for a site to build our first U.S. brewery, we knew we wanted to differentiate ourselves from other sake brewers,” says Asahi Shuzo Chairman Hiroshi Sakurai. “The proximity to The CIA, located in the heart of the Hudson Valley, is an ideal fit. We are excited to cultivate this new relationship.”
To encourage Asahi Shuzo’s growth in New York, Empire State Development offered the Japan-based brewery up to $588,235 in performance-based tax credits through the Excelsior Jobs Program. Asahi Shuzo will invest more than $28 million in the facility and create 32 new jobs.
The CIA and Asahi Shuzo will also seek research and development opportunities to further identify ways in which sake and the by-product from the sake-making process can be used to expand food flavors and culinary techniques, along with the potential for new lines of sake-based products.
New York State is ranked third in the United States for highest foreign direct investment, with 474,000 New York jobs supported by foreign investments. Japan is the third largest foreign investor into the United States.
Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York State continues to implement legislative and policy changes to capitalize on the soaring consumer demand for locally produced craft beverages and to make it easier to open and run a craft manufacturing business. These improvements include lowering taxes and fees, providing support for research, creating new licenses for farm breweries and cideries, rolling back restrictive regulations, cutting the time it takes to obtain a license in half and overhauling the state's antiquated Alcoholic Beverage Control law. These reforms have led to a 156 percent increase in the number of new farm craft manufacturers since the Governors' first Wine, Beer and Spirits Summit in 2012, growing from 282 licenses in 2012 to 721 today, including 208 farm breweries and 42 farm cideries.
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NEW YORK,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.
Contact:
Amy Varghese (ESD) | [email protected] | (212) 803-3740
ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313