Pearl Street Brewery sets up fund for small businesses

A local La Crosse brewery hopes to help others facing uncertain times by setting up a small business relief fund.

In a letter from Pearl Street Brewery Brewmaster Joe Katchever, he said they launched the La Crosse Bar & Restaurant Relief Fund to raise money for small businesses owners in La Crosse’s hospitality industry.

“In these unprecedented and scary times for small business owners like all of us, we want to band together and do something,” Katchever said. “I know that if we work together to support each other, we can all survive this.”

He claimed the lack of funding that the Coronavirus relief package known as the CARES Act gives to small businesses will impact their survival.

The brewery said all proceeds donated to the relief fund through their 501C3 Non-Profit The Sprout for Kids Foundation will be donated to partners of Pearl Street Brewery.

“We will not be keeping any of the money,” Katchever said. “It is yours to do with what you like.”

He listed three key ways for people to help. The first was to create awareness and share the La Crosse Bar & Restaurant Relief Fund page on Facebook. Next, he asked small businesses to share their stories, worries and need speaking to their audiences. He encouraged they share a short, 30-second video to the Facebook page or email to tami@pearlstreetbrewery.com.

Lastly, he suggested teaming up with Pearl Street Brewery to create a La Crosse Bar & Restaurant Relief Fund curbside or carryout event.