LANSING - State Senate Bill 846 was recently finalized, and now awaits Governor Snyder’s signature. The bill will expand the number of liquor licenses per capita in redevelopment areas in township's and village's.

Current legislation only affords licenses granted by population quota to cities. Leaving business owners in township's and village's to have to buy off old liquor licenses from their previous owners on the open market.

With the new bill, these township and village business owners will be able to surpass having to fight to get the highest bid on licenses for sale from restaurants going out of business or previous license holders. Instead, they will appeal to state government for one of the many new appropriated licenses depending on the populations of their respective local area.

“So this new bill provides or could potentially provide new opportunities for businesses in development specifically, to either expand their business or to include a pub, restaurant, brew pub, or microbrewery as a part of new development project,” said Peter Menser, Associate Planner, Meridian Township.