The City of Lovington is finalizing a decision on who will receive $40,000 in grant money to develop the first micro-distillery in Lea County.
The grant money is being provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the long-talked-about project that is expected to keep locals in the area but also attract visitors from elsewhere. The project—called “Afterhours on Main”—was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but City officials with Lovington Mainstreet are hearing proposals from two finalists who applied for the grant.
“We are finally able to proceed with our micro-distillery initiative; and it is $40,000 to one entrepreneur who is interested in either opening a tasting room or a full-fledged micro-distillery,” Mara Salcido, executive director at Lovington Mainstreet, recently told KRQE.
A decision on an entrepreneur and a concept for the project are expected to be finalized by the end of this year, the KRQE report said. Lovington Mainstreet will help with all of the permitting and a portion of the construction costs.
City officials are hoping a new micro-distillery—along with the micro-brewery Drylands already in the area—will keep potential patrons from leaving the area to find a place to unwind and mingle.
“After 5 o’clock the town goes completely dormant,” Salcido said. “The majority of the people go to Lubbock or Midland so our money is definitely leaving to Texas.”
