The state announced it is launching a one stop shop to provide wine, beer and spirits producers with a single point of government contact for help with regulations, licensing, state incentives, and any other industry-related questions or issues.
At the state”™s first Wine, Beer and Spirits Summit last October, manufacturers and wholesalers in the beer, wine, and spirits industry raised concerns about the number of different state agencies that they must deal with not only to go into business, but to stay in compliance.
These businesses, many of which are small and do not retain attorneys on a full-time basis, often don’t know what agency to deal with for a particular issue and therefore can at times be subject to avoidable fines.
The one stop shop is part of the Empire State Development, New York’s economic agency. The one stop shop provides staff from agencies involved in regulating manufacturing and licenses to respond to inquiries, host programs and resolve problems. A website - esd.ny.gov/NYSBeverageBiz.html – and phone number (518-227-1525) has been launched for business owners.
“With this one stop shop, the days when our state’s beverage producers have to navigate a complicated bureaucratic process to find answers to their questions are coming to an end,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said in a statement. “The New New York supports and invests in our niche industries, and that is what this new service is all about.”
