Article by: Mary Kennedy
Harmony Spirits micro-distillery celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting event on July 4th! CEDA Vice President Chris Giesen has been working with the owners of the distillery for over four years, offering small business counseling and packaging several assistance programs to help them establish in Harmony. Additionally, the Harmony Economic Development Authority sold the lot to the distillery for $1, made a $25,000 loan for equipment, and gave a $10,000 forgivable loan to get the project off the ground. “This project is exciting for the community not only because of the micro distillery opening, but also because the EDA has worked since 2005 to redevelop the lot where the distillery built.
The city received a redevelopment grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development DEED) in 2005 to demolish and redevelop blighted properties and build a public parking lot on a downtown block. It was a lot of work to find the right project to fit this important space,” Giesen explained. “This business complements the community very well. It supports local restaurants too, as the distillery does not offer a food menu, and it attracts even more tourists and visitors to the downtown.” Harmony Spirits uses locally sourced grain to make whiskey, rum, and vodka. Soon, their products will also be available in liquor stores and they will also be adding bourbon and gin to their lineup. Stop by Harmony Spirits Thursdays – Saturdays between 12-9 pm, or Sundays from 5-9 pm!