Background on Local Equity Entrepreneur Program (LEEP) Grant

The State’s Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions aims to advance economic justice for populations and communities impacted by cannabis prohibition and the War on Drugs (WoD) by providing support to local jurisdictions as they promote equity in California and eliminate barriers to entering the newly regulated cannabis industry for equity program applicants and licensees. The County has submitted applications for LEEP funding in the five rounds which have opened so far; four of those applications were funded.  With $6 million awarded from the State and administered by the Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz) and $100,000 in matching grant funds from the Board of Supervisors (BOS), the program offers applicants waivers of cannabis business expenses, direct grants funds for start-up and ongoing expenses, and direct technical assistance based on individual needs and circumstances.

To date, the Mendocino Cannabis Department (MCD) has administered approximately $5 million in assistance through direct grants and waivers to verified eligible applicants.

LEEP Updates

• The Department is excited to announce a Cannabis Equity Grants Program award of $1,803,929.86, also known as LEEP Round 5.  
• The Department projects direct grant funding will be fully allocated to applicants who are already in the direct grant queue, after the start of the grant agreement term in April 2024.
• If you are a LEEP Direct Grant recipient and would like to submit a budget amendment for a fully executed grant agreement, please email cannabisprogram@mendocinocounty.gov to start this process. 

LEEP Criteria (Updated February 9, 2024)

Any individual who has worked in or currently works in the cannabis industry, who has obtained, applied for, or will apply for a cannabis CCBL in Mendocino County, and owns at least 50% of the business and meets one of the following equity criteria:

1. Lived in a place for at least 5 years between 1980 and 2016 that was a California county with drug arrest rates that were higher than the state average drug arrest rates and: The top 25% for unemployment and poverty; you can use the DCC map tool to see if you live in a qualifying area.
2. Any individual who was arrested and/or convicted of a non-violent cannabis-related offense prior to November 8, 2016, or who has a parent, sibling or child who was arrested for or convicted of the sale, possession, use, manufacture or cultivation of cannabis (including as a juvenile) prior to November 8, 2016;
3. Any individual who was personally raided or was subject to asset forfeiture arising from a cannabis-related event;
4. Are a person who experienced sexual assault, exploitation, domestic violence, and/or human trafficking while participating in the cannabis industry;
5. Have become homeless or suffered a loss of housing as a result of cannabis enforcement.
6. Your household income is no more than 60% of the area’s median income, or you’re eligible to get financial aid through a program like:
   1. CalFresh
   2. MediCal
   3. CalWORKS
   4. Supplemental security income
   5. Social Security disability

Attachments:

Mendocino County Equity Assessment (February 2020)