City to Help Market Local Wineries, Distilleries and Micro Brews

The City of Yakima will be getting into the business of marketing local micro brews, wineries and distilleries in 2015.

City Economic Development Director Sean Hawkins says the city has seven locally owned wineries, two local distilleries, locally owned breweries and a cider production facility.

There's enough of the facilities that I think we can put together a package that is not only a marketing piece and event based and a way to get media involved to as being a good draw for visitors in the city.

Hawkins says the quality of the product is high and there are enough facilities now and more on the way to consider a healthy marketing campaign. He says the $50,000 in the 2015 city budget will be used to create that marketing arm while working with the private sector beverage industry.

The city budget is expected to be approved during the last council meeting of the year on Dec. 9 at city hall.