Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management awards $1 mil in grants

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) awarded $1 million in grant money to community organizations on Thursday.  

The CanRenew grant program is designed to invest in communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition. The grant money will go toward economic development, public health, violence prevention, youth programs and civil legal aid, according to an OCM press release. 

“The exciting projects funded with CanRenew grant funds prove that social equity goes beyond just licensing,” stated Jess Jackson, OCM’s director of social equity. “The programs will provide much-needed support to communities experiencing the lingering burden of excessive and discriminatory law enforcement.”

The OCM said about 150 organizations applied for the grants, and just 11 organizations were awarded funding. Funding for applicants will increase to $10 million in 2027.  

Here are the organizations that received funding: 

Affinity Care MN (Bloomington) received $100,000 for its Revive the Flats project. The money is meant to assist in supporting an HIV/disability housing site. 

Beltrami Area Service Collaboration (Bemidji) received $100,000 for a youth program on preventing cannabis and substance use. 

Girls Dream Code (St. Paul) received $50,000 to support girls in underserved communities who want to learn more about technology.  

Hired (Minneapolis) received $85,000 for its Corridors to Careers (C2C) project that works with youth in the Twin Cities. 

Ignite Afterschool (Minneapolis) received $75,000 for an afterschool youth club that educates young people about cannabis and nonprofit management.  

InTENtions (Brooklyn Center and Mora) received $100,000 for a youth program that connects Black, Indigenous and people of color to nature and sustainability education. 

Metropolitan Economic Development Association (Minneapolis) received $70,000 to start a program that will create or expand 100+ BIPOC-owned businesses in North Minneapolis. 

United Way of Steele County (Owatonna) received $100,000 to create a teen center for young people to gather and access mental health support. 

Vermilion Country School (Tower) received $100,000 for Vermilion Country School’s Youth Development & Job Training Program that offers education for teens in agriculture, landscaping, forestry and other career paths. 

Walker West Music Academy (St. Paul) received $50,000 to help with a monthly concert series in the Rondo neighborhood.

World Youth Connect (St. Paul) received $100,000 for the S.E.E.D. Program, a youth research program on the impacts of cannabis. 

The OCM shared in the press release Thursday that one grant applicant will be awarded at a later date.