News

Record liquor sales boost grants to city, county, schools

Assistant Superintendent Wendy Frye and Superintendent Dr. John Bryant of the Henderson County school system display a check presented by ABC Board Chair Marcie Kane, part of the proceeds from the record ABC sales of $9,993,515 in 2020-21.

By Lightning Reports, Published: November 4, 2021

The pandemic-fueled surge in alcohol sales resulted in increased grants to local government, city police and the Henderson County school system, the Hendersonville ABC Board said.

In photo, Assistant Superintendent Wendy Frye and Superintendent Dr. John Bryant of the Henderson County school system display a check presented by ABC Board Chair Marcie Kane, part of the proceeds from the record ABC sales of $9,993,515 for the fiscal year ending June 30.

The state-run ABC system operates liquor stores in Hendersonville on South Church Street, Thompson Street and McMurray Road. Last December sales topped $1 million for the first time since the city opened its first ABC store in 1960 and from the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020 stores experienced 19 straight months of increased sales. The revenue growth enabled the Hendersonville stores to distribute $665,000 — 50 percent to the city of Hendersonville, 25 percent to Henderson County, 24 percent to the Henderson County School Board and 1 percent to the Henderson County public library plus $40,000 to the Hendersonville Police Department. The local board also disbursed $60,000 for alcohol education in public schools, including substance abuse services and support for Project Graduation and speakers on alcohol and substance abuse, and awarded $10,000 for substance abuse counseling at Safelight, the domestic violence shelter. ABC board members in addition to Kane are Ken Calhoun and former state Rep. Chuck McGrady.