A little-known state grant program promoting Pennsylvania’s beer industry is not great about paying for those promotions, reports Spotlight PA.

Mark Brault, owner of Deer Creek Malthouse in Glen Mills, discovered that first-hand.

Brault created Deer Creek Malthouse in 2012 to highlight the use of locally owned grains in malt ingredients.

He applied for and received three grants;

The program, which was administered by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, requires participants to pay costs upfront than use the grants for reimbursement.

Brault was reimbursed for the first two grants, but he’s only received $40,000 of a $149,950 third grant he received to promote Pennsylvania beer, grain farmers and maltsters.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has refused to pay any more, saying Deer Creek did not meet the program’s guidelines.

When Brault tried to correct the problems, he felt like the agency kept changing the rules.

“This program is broken,” Brault said.

“This has put tremendous strain on our business,” he said. “I’ve had to lay some people off.”

Almost a fifth of the total dollars awarded to the program were never paid out by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, according to a Spotlight PA analysis.

Find out more about this Pennsylvania beer promotion program at Spotlight PA.