GOOD HOPE — The Good Hope City Council has approved a tax incentive that will help a new brewery, restaurant and distillery get started.

During Monday night’s regular meeting, the council approved an economic development agreement with Preston Prewett and Twisted Dixie, LLC. As part of the agreement, the tax incentive will be for up to $72,000 from the city’s hard liquor tax revenue that is generated by the brewery that will be paid out over a maximum of five years.

Prewett, a Good Hope resident, said he has been involved in brewing for a long time and has worked with breweries in Birmingham and surrounding areas.

“I’m very excited to bring something into town,” he said. “We feel like it will be a really good spot here, especially with the distillery. There’s not any distilleries around.”

Prewett said he has a location in mind, and if everything proceeds on schedule, the brewery could be open before fall.

“We’re hoping to be up and running by the end of summer,” he said. 

Mayor Jerry Bartlett said the council approved the tax incentive to support and encourage new businesses into the area, especially ventures that are rare for the area.

“We thought it was a great idea with what he’s wanting to do, and we just like to bring business to Good Hope,” Bartlett said. “And it’s a little bit of an unusual type of business.”

Along with Prewett’s plans for the restaurant and brewery, Bartlett said there are a few other people who have expressed interest in opening a new business in Good Hope.

“We’re ready for more,” he said.

In other business, the council approved a $10,000 donation out of the city’s alcohol fund to Good Hope Fire and Rescue to help the department purchase a new rescue truck to replace its current one.

Fire Chief David Scott said the new truck will let the department cover more calls with its rescue truck, and the $10,000 donation will help cover the $25,000 cost.

“This rescue truck we have now, all we can do is rescue calls out of it,” he said. “With this new truck, we can fight fires and run interstate calls. It has a pump system on it, it has rescue tools on it.”

After a short executive session, the council voted to allow an appraisal on property that the town is looking to possibly purchase for a parks and recreation project.

“It does not mean that we’re going to purchase the property,” Bartlett said. “It just means that we’re going to get it appraised and see if it’s a price that we would be willing to pay.”