The City of San José has announced the 10 San José residents eligible to open a cannabis retail business under the City's Cannabis Equity Business Program:
- Nadgie Haro Martinez
- Miguel Aguilar Cruz
- Michael Lee
- David Ngo
- [Name withheld by request]
- Francisco Medina
- Giau Nguyen
- Jesse Noble
- Peter Sanchez
- Anas Mahmoud
The 10 selected were some of the 29 San José residents who completed the Cannabis Business Equity Academy, a no-cost, inclusive cannabis entrepreneurship training program for those disproportionately affected by historical cannabis laws. The Academy was created by the Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs in partnership with the Enterprise Foundation and the Cal Asian Chamber of Commerce, and was informed by the City's Cannabis Equity Assessment completed in 2022.
"The Cannabis Equity Business Academy speaks to the City's commitment to equity and to improve the quality of life for all of our residents and business owners," said Nanci Klein, Director of the City of San José's Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs. "86% of the Academy's graduates identify as Asian, African and Native American, Latino or Pacific Islander. This was a quality entrepreneurship program produced by the City in support of underserved residents; the topic in this case just happened to be cannabis."
The candidates were selected among the Academy graduates via a lottery conducted by the San José Police Department, and have been invited to complete the phases and steps to register for a Cannabis Equity Business, as outlined in the City's Cannabis Regulations (Part III – Registration as a Cannabis Equity Business).
Through a cannabis equity grant from the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, the candidates will receive assistance to complete the registration process through grants for their business's startup and ongoing costs, including obtaining legal and regulatory assistance.
"Since April 2023, we have been privileged to work closely with a diverse group of entrepreneurs through the Academy, seeing firsthand their dedication and passion to succeed in the cannabis industry," said Frank Louie, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of the CA Grow Green program for the CalAsian Chamber of Commerce. "Our next phase of this program aims to support the candidates in securing the necessary licenses needed to operate. We are inspired by their journey and are committed to ensuring their continued growth and success in the cannabis market."
Source: www.sanjose.gov