Seal of the Governor
For Immediate Release: June 29, 2018
Contacts: Office of the Governor: Ofirah Yheskel, Ofirah.Yheskel@governor.virginia.gov | Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Elaine Lidholm, Elaine.Lidholm@vdacs.virginia.gov | Haley’s Honey Meadery: Tonya and Mike Haley, HoneyMeadery@gmail.com

Governor Northam Announces New Meadery in the City of Hopewell

Haley’s Honey Meadery, LLC to create jobs, investment, and new market for Virginia honey

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Haley’s Honey Meadery, LLC, a producer of honey wine, is opening a new Virginia farm winery licensed facility in the City of Hopewell’s revitalizing downtown. Over the next three years, the project will create four new jobs, bring an additional $85,000 in new investment to a renovated historic commercial building, and purchase almost $120,000 in Virginia-sourced honey.

“The decision by Haley’s Honey Meadery to locate in downtown Hopewell, along with their commitment to source 100 percent of their ingredients from Virginia growers, demonstrates the impact that the agricultural sector can have on urban areas of our Commonwealth,” said Governor Northam. “Investments like this create jobs, generate the sweet buzz of tourism, and grow the tax base, while providing new markets for Virginia’s farmers. We thank the company for choosing the City of Hopewell and look forward to their future success in the Commonwealth.”

“Honey bees provide indispensable support as pollinators to Virginia’s fruit and vegetable producers,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring. “So I am thrilled the Commonwealth can support this new meadery which will create an important new market for the product of these pollinators, honey.”

“We are very excited to receive these grant funds from the AFID program. This money will make it possible for us to expand our honey business by launching a micro-meadery in Hopewell. We will be able to revitalize a building for production, add a patio, and a retail space,” said Tonya and Mike Haley, owners of Haley’s Honey Meadery. “Our passion is to support local farmers and educate people about beekeeping. Our goal is merge the old and new ways of beekeeping and reintroduce mead to the public by crafting it in small batches using Virginia products. We are going to educate people on the history of the oldest fermented drink and through this, continue our efforts to inform the public about the importance of the honeybee and their plight.”

“The City is excited to see yet another business coming to downtown Hopewell,” said Jackie M. Shornak, Mayor of the City of Hopewell. “The City is proud to offer incentives through the local enterprise zone program reducing start-up costs for businesses and are grateful for the support from Governor Northam and Secretary Ring through the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund.”

“The EDA has been working with the client and the Commonwealth for over a year to help bring this project to fruition,”said Hopewell Economic Development Authority Chair Deborah Randolph. “In an effort to bring new business and economic development to Hopewell, the EDA Board is very pleased to learn that Haley’s Honey Meadery will be receiving support through the AFID Program.”

“We are thrilled to have Haley’s Honey Meadery coming to the City of Hopewell and to the 16th Senate District. Haley’s Honey joins a community of thriving small businesses and agricultural ventures in the District and in the City of Hopewell that are critical to the area’s economy,” said Senator Rosalyn Dance. “Ongoing partnerships between state and local government and businesses, such as the funds made available by the Local Enterprise Zone Program and the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, are critical investments that help facilitate the incredible work of entrepreneurs such as Tonya and Mike Haley.”

“Citizens throughout the entire Tri-Cities region will positively benefit from the new jobs that Haley’s Honey Meadery facility brings,” said Delegate Lashrecse Aird. “Thriving cities and a strong quality of life occur when diverse industries like Haley’s thrive.  I look forward to the impact that their new meadery will have in the many years to come.”

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services worked with the City of Hopewell Economic Development Authority (EDA) and Haley’s Honey Meadery to secure this project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $12,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, which Hopewell will match with local funds.

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