The company has purchased the former Emergency Services Training Centre (ESTC), south of Blyth, from the Township of North Huron.

The 18,000 square foot building sits on 7-acres, adjacent to the Cowbell brewery and, subject to engineering and environmental inspections, this deal will close by late November.

For the next year, the North Huron Fire Department, Huron County Emergency Services and Tuckersmith Telecommunication Co-operative will continue to operate from this location, while new facilities are built elsewhere in the village.

Cowbell will renovate office and administrative areas at ESTC for early 2019 occupancy. Starting 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.

Plans will be developed to increase parking capacity and to enhance Guest safety by re-routing onsite truck traffic at the Cowbell Farm. Work will be completed by late 2020.

“We are excited about this expansion opportunity,” said Grant Sparling, Cowbell’s Chief Development Officer.

He added: “We are pleased to be one part of the economic revitalization underway in the village of Blyth and across Huron County. Great things are happening.”

In the summer, Cowbell Brewing Co welcomed the 150,000th guest at its craft brewery and restaurant.

Cowbell, which opened on August 7th, 2017, has welcomed guests from across Huron County and Southwestern Ontario, as well as from across Canada, the United States and more than 30 countries.

Sparling explained: “We are humbled by the enthusiasm and the response to the beer, the stories and this farm destination.

“We are thrilled to have welcomed over 150,000 guests in our first year, to our village of 1005 people. Prior to opening, our stated goal was 100,000 guests, something many observers thought was unrealistic. But this is no ordinary place – and this is no ordinary team.

“It is a very ambitious bunch and we look forward to building on the Cowbell experience in the years ahead, on the Farm and beyond. We appreciate the tremendous support from our friends of Cowbell.”