New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) applauds Governor Andrew Cuomo’s launch of a one stop shop that is designed to provide New York’s wine, beer, and spirits producers with a single point of government contact for assistance regarding regulations, licensing, state incentives, and any other questions or issues facing the industry.

The one stop shop was created as a result of suggestions made during the Governor’s Wine, Beer, and Spirits Summit held in October 2012. At the Summit, beer, wine, and spirits manufacturers and wholesalers 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 whom are small and do not retain attorneys on a full time basis, often do not know what agency they must deal with for a particular issue and therefore can at times be unnecessarily subject to avoidable fines.

To address this issue, the one stop shop provides the industry with a single point of contact and place to call for assistance. Designated staff from the agencies involved in regulating manufacturers and licensees will coordinate with the one stop shop to respond to inquiries, host educational and training programs, and resolve problems. A website (http://esd.ny.gov/NYSBeverageBiz.html) has been launched for industry members to contact the one stop shop. In addition, the website provides a single list of incentives, grants, loans, and special permits available to beverage producers through many different State agencies. Also included on the website is a special FAQ section, which provides immediate answers to some of the most common industry related questions and will be updated on a continuing basis.

Assemblyman Thiele noted, "Over the past few years, with the assistance of Governor Cuomo, we have been able to alleviate many difficulties facing our State's beverage producers. In 2011 the Farm Winery Bill significantly reduced the regulatory burdens placed on farm wineries. In 2012, legislation I sponsored exempted farm wineries and craft breweries from a burdensome tax filing requirement. And now, in 2013, this one stop shop will help our State's beverage producers navigate a complicated bureaucratic process.”

The one stop shop will be staffed by representatives from state agencies involved in regulating and supporting the industry, including the State Liquor Authority, Department of Agriculture & Markets, Tax and Finance Department, Labor Department, Department of Environmental Conservation, Health Department, Transportation Department, State Energy Research and Development Authority and New York Power Authority. Empire State Development established and will maintain the one-stop.