North Huron is selling the Emergency Services and Training Centre in Blyth.
Council accepted the offer of $3.5 million from Cowbell Brewing Company to expand their operation. The deal is expected to close by late November.
Cowbell will renovate office and administrative areas at ESTC for early 2019 occupancy. Starting in late 2019, the central section of the ESTC building will be converted to a Packaging Hall, and former classroom space will become home to Cowbell College.
"We are excited about this expansion opportunity," said Grant Sparling, Cowbell’s chief development officer. "We are pleased to be one part of the economic revitalization underway in the village of Blyth and across Huron County."
Plans will be developed to increase parking and to enhance safety by re-routing onsite truck traffic at the Cowbell Farm. Work will be completed by late 2020.
In the meantime, the North Huron Fire Department, Huron County Emergency Services and Tuckersmith Telecommunication Co-operative will continue to operate from the ESTC building for the next year while new facilities are built elsewhere in Blyth.
Reeve Neil Vincent stated, "North Huron congratulates Cowbell on their business expansion and is pleased to be part of their business expansion plans. Cowbell is an integral part of the Blyth business community and a leader in innovation and creativity."