Sylvia Blain, who’s originally from Fort Worth, Texas, has lived in Arkansas since 1991. Her background is in nonprofit management, event planning, tourism and policy. She graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology.
In 2018, the board of the Arkansas Brewers Guild, established in 2003 as a volunteer-led organization, thought the guild was in a position to hire an executive director and brought Blain, who lives in North Little Rock, aboard.
Blain is a founding member of the Arkansas chapter of the Pink Boots Society, which seeks to encourage women in the beer industry to further their careers through education.
How were Arkansas breweries faring before the coronavirus pandemic?
Prior to March, Arkansas breweries were maintaining market position with moderate growth in market share that mirrored the national trend. According to the Brewers Association, the national trade organization for the industry, beer sales overall were down 4% in 2019 but craft beer’s share of sales was up 6%. It’s a modest increase, but an increase nonetheless. Arkansas has seen growth in the number of breweries in the last five years, from 26 in 2015 to more than 40 in 2020, with an economic impact of $838 million on the Arkansas economy in 2019.
How are breweries faring now and what are they doing to get through the crisis?
The industry has taken a significant hit along with the rest of the hospitality industry. We don’t yet have any hard numbers to share, but an informal survey shows an approximate 25% drop in sales through the second quarter.
It’s important to remember that package sales in liquor and grocery stores are not an available outlet for many of our local breweries. When taprooms, bars and restaurants closed, the impact was felt immediately. In March, the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division announced temporary rule changes that allow delivery and curbside to-go. That was a life raft for us. Municipal help in the form of expanded seating and serving areas was also helpful. There is no single approach to survival; it’s all fair game.
Were federal and state aid programs sufficient, or does more need to be done and if so, what?
Federal and state aid programs were helpful as were municipal grant programs, but they are falling short as this pandemic wears on. The industry needs more help.
We are asking our legislators to support the following:
- make permanent the Craft Beverage Modernization & Tax Reform Act
- replenish and expand the uses of Payroll Protection Program funds and who can have access to the funds.
- allow past borrowers to apply for a second loan and allow 501(c)(6)s, like state brewers’ guilds, to apply.
- ensure loan forgiveness for the smallest businesses that acted in good faith to comply with current PPP guidance.
- support a credit for businesses that have losses due to perishable goods (thousands of kegs of beer in the marketplace have expired due to brewery, restaurant, bar and entertainment venue closures).
- support the inclusion of the brewing industry in the House and Senate Restaurants Acts, which would create a revitalization fund for eligible food and drinking establishments.
What can Arkansans do to support their favorite craft breweries?
Stock your beer fridge, buy Arkansas craft beer as gifts, buy beer merchandise and gift certificates, and support your favorite breweries by amplifying their events on social media. It all counts.
You can find an Arkansas craft brewery near you by visiting arkansasbrewersguild.org.
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