Local brewery joins the fight against covid-19
With help from workNet DuPage
Award-winning craft beer. Five artisan restaurants. Specialty coffee. Hand-crafted spirits. Brothers Jason and Jim Ebel have seen their company, Two Brothers, evolve from a brewery to a thriving lifestyle brand. Growing up in Wheaton in the early 80s, the brothers could never have imagined the turn their future business would temporarily take during an unforeseen pandemic.
When Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a statewide “stay-at-home” order in March to slow the spread of COVID-19, the company closed most of its operations and furloughed staff.
Shortly after the lockdown, while a skeletal crew continued to roast beans at its Warrenville location, an official from The Department of Homeland Security walked in with an unexpected proposal. The federal government, facing a global hand sanitizer shortage, was reaching out to distilleries – key producers of ethanol, a central sanitizer ingredient.
The company didn’t hesitate to take action.
"It’s our patriotic duty.” Jason Ebel, Two Brothers
According to Jason, ensuring employees continued to collect a paycheck was worth the high up-front cost of a new business. “Plus,” he added “it’s our patriotic duty.”
Avoiding layoffs
In an attempt to ease Two Brothers’ financial burden and avert layoffs, workNet DuPage disbursed 1E Cares Act funding, which enabled the company to purchase hydrogen peroxide, packaging, and other necessary items.
“The grant reimbursement was hugely helpful. It allowed us to employ extra workers knowing we could cover the labor expense. This made us more productive and allowed us to keep up with demand,” says Jason. As a result, the company saved dozens of jobs.
“The grant reimbursement was hugely helpful. It allowed us to employ extra workers knowing we could cover the labor expense. This made us more productive and allowed us to keep up with demand.” Jason Ebel, Two Brothers
![Hand Sanitizer 3](https://worknetdupage.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Hand-Sanitizer-3.jpg)