Framingham Voters Grant Jack's Abby 7-Year Tax Break

During the first night of Framingham's town meeting, a 139-2 vote secured Jack's Abby Brewing a seven-year tax break, MetroWest Daily News reported.

The lager-focused brewery, founded in 2011, is currently undertaking a $6 million expansion of its production facility that will also include a new taproom and restaurant in the downtown area. Last night's vote gives the go-ahead to a tax increment financing agreement approved by the Framingham selectboard earlier this spring, which the Daily News also covered.

The town's economic development director said his office brokered the deal to keep the growing business in Framingham. The agreement will net Jack's Abby a property tax break of about $225,000 over the next seven years, based on improvements it is making to the Dennison Manufacturing Co. building, which will house the new, 67,000-square foot facility. In exchange, Jack's Abby has committed to staying in Framingham with a 12-year lease, and it plans to hire 35 more employees in addition to its 19 current full-timers.

The company will still be on the hook for property taxes incurred by new growth, and it will take on full tax responsibility after the first seven years, the Daily News notes.

For the trio of brothers behind Jack's Abby, last night's vote was one of confidence. "The Framingham community has given us amazing support over the last 4 years and we couldn't be more excited for the future we're building here," the company posted on Facebook. Construction is underway, and Jack's Abby is planning a fall 2015 opening at 100 Clinton St., according to Framingham Patch.