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By: Brendan McDonough

Reporter for North Tonawanda

Woodcock Brothers Brewing Company is hoping to breath some new life into the old Wurlitzer Building on Wilson Street in North Tonawanda. Proposed is a 6000 square foot brewing company. The cost for the project is 1.3 million dollars, with 500,000 coming in funding from the community block grant development program. Members of the city council, along with local leaders recently held a public hearing on the matter.  “I feel like the business would be the most substantial and have the biggest impact on the area,” said Austin Tylec, Alderman at Large.

The project would create 19 full time and 32 part time jobs. The company currently has another brewing facility in Wilson, NY. For many the new business would be a welcome addition to North Tonawanda.

“We cannot afford to turn away a 1.3 million in this city, anywhere, let alone Wurlitzer which has been vacant, up until Platters Chocolates came in,” said Eric Zadzilka, Common Council President.

Some residents were not happy with all the block grant funding going to just one business, but city leaders say when it comes to funding like Community Development Block Grants, one business can apply at a time. So, this month it could be Woodcock Brothers Brewing Company and next month it could be another business.

It’s estimated about 40 million dollars in available every year in CDBG funding to eligible communities across New York State.

What happens next is the council must approve the submission of the application for funding.

It will be discussed again at the Common Council’s next meeting on June 5th.

If all goes according to plan they hope to have the business open by Feb or March of next year.