The building that Moriches Field Brewing Company now occupies was originally used as a fuel service company called Rumph’s. In between the property housed a canvas and awning company, a gymnastic facility and a baseball academy. Across the road from the LIRR tracks, the property sat vacant for a year before the brewery took it over in October 2020, amid the pandemic.
Because of this, Moriches Field Brewing Company was eligible for various grants from PSEG Long Island to encourage economic development. Initially the company received the utilities Vacant Space Revival Program discounts, which will save the owner more than $4,000 on electric bills and an additional $770 in lighting rebates for replacing inefficient lighting fixtures in the building with LEDs.
John Keating, manager of Economic Development at PSEG Long Island said the utility is proud offer programs that make it easier for people to realize their dreams of business ownership, while also revitalizing and reviving vacant spaces and creating places for the community to enjoy.
“When local businesses thrive, it helps improve the local economy, which is a win-win-win,” he said.
After making renovations to its building, the brewery was awarded an $18,500 economic development grant through PSEG Long Island’s Main Street Revitalization Program - created to fund projects that are expected to improve economic stability and growth in local business districts and optimize the use of existing electric infrastructure.
Richard Flynn, founder and owner of Moriches Field Brewing Company said that the money made a huge difference and helped them open during a pandemic.
“The grant money made it possible to more easily weather the early months while we invested in our building, equipment, people and everything else necessary to operate a successful craft brewery,” he said.