As a reminder, the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) is accepting applications for the Immediate Needs Grant Program from cannabis social equity businesses that have at least a provisional license from the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) until 11:59 PM TONIGHT (Thurs. 2/15).
The Immediate Needs Grant Program is the first grant program of the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund and will distribute $2.3 million in grants of up to $50,000 to qualified applicants.
Allowable Use of Funds
Applicants may request funds to support imminent or outstanding expenses essential to the operation of the business, including but not limited to:
- Personnel costs: Business payroll expenses.
- Rent, lease, utilities, or other facility expenses
- Regulatory Fees: Application, permitting, licensing and other regulatory fees needed to maintain licensure;
- Professional Services: Outstanding bills for critical services, such as legal, accounting, etc.
- Debt service: Loans repayments or business debt service, both principal and interest, to help bring loans current (not for any prepayment of principal or interest); or
- Other expenses that support stabilizing the business.
Helpful Links
- Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund
- Immediate Needs Grant Program Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) (PDF)
- CSETF Online Application Walkthrough
- CSETF Immediate Needs Program Webinar Presentation
- CSETF Immediate Needs Grant Program Webinar Recording
- Executive Office of Economic Development Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund Submission Manager (submittable.com)
- Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund Draft Regulations (400 CMR 8.00)
- EON’s Comments Regarding 400 CMR 8.00
- Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board
Questions?
Questions may be submitted via email to CannabisEquityFund@mass.gov. Similar questions will be aggregated, and responses will be posted here and/or in a Frequently Asked Questions document. Please forward your questions to kevin@masseon.com so we can help follow up and get answers.