Federal Officials Tour American Keg Co. In Montgomery County To Highlight Supply Issues

POTTSTOWN, PA — A contingent of federal officials visited this western Montgomery County borough last week to highlight supply chain woes that have affected businesses such as American's last remaining beer keg manufacturing facility.

U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, a Democrat representing Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District, joined Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo during a tour of the American Keg Company, which had faced the threat of closure last year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The business, which remains the only keg manufacturer in the United States, was afraid it would have to shutter when it could no longer secure enough American steel for their production, according to Dean's office.

Dean said she brought this concern to Raimondo, who was able to connect American Keg with a steel supplier, ultimately helping the business to stay afloat.

"The American Keg Company is a beacon in our community," Dean said in a statement. "As the only keg manufacturer in the United States and a local business that is committed to workforce reentry, they are a powerful example of American manufacturing."

During the tour of the manufacturing facility on June 2, Dean and the others learned from American Keg CEO Paul Czachor, owner Scott Bentley and others about the hardships plaguing businesses due to supply chain issues tied to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dean, in her statement, said that the team of officials were grateful to the business opening its doors so "we could learn from their success and to Secretary Raimondo for her advocacy that saved this unique business and the livelihoods of people in Pottstown."

Raimondo, in her own statement, said that the Biden administration has made revitalizing American manufacturing a top priority and that she was proud to have worked with Dean to help American Keg secure the steel it required to help keep their doors open and their employees working.

"I'm also grateful for the chance to visit a company working hard to keep manufacturing jobs in Pennsylvania," Raimondo stated.

Sen. Casey said that Pennsylvania does two things really well: "steel and beer," and that the commonwealth is also at the forefront of criminal justice to help reduce barriers for workforce reentry through its legislation like the Clean Slate Act, which helps to seal some criminal records from public view.

Czachor, CEO of American Keg, said in a statement that he was grateful for the visit by the federal officials, saying the team from Washington D.C. were "instrumental in helping American Keg with supply chain and tariff issues to allow us to continue and grow."

"We provide ourselves on using American-made steel and providing good jobs in our community, and we look forward to working together to keep manufacturing thriving in the United States," Czachor stated.

Others who attended last week's facility tour included Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh, State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, and others.