Office of Cannabis Management announces recipients of CanGrow grant funds

Office of Cannabis Management announces recipients of CanGrow grant funds to help farmers succeed in the cannabis industry

St. Paul, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced four organizations have been awarded funding from the state’s CanGrow grant program that helps farmers enter or expand into the cannabis industry. OCM also announced it is accepting applications for the next round of funding to provide people with the education, knowledge and training to enter and succeed in Minnesota’s cannabis cultivation industry. 

“With the establishment of Minnesota’s adult-use cannabis industry, we are creating financial opportunities that foster a fair, equitable and sustainable market,” said OCM Executive Director Eric Taubel. “CanGrow grants are intended to create a strong knowledge base of cannabis cultivators and entrepreneurs while keeping to our commitment to social equity by empowering those who face barriers to joining the market.”

One of the recipients was: Leech Lake Financial Services (Cass Lake) is awarded $382,910 for administering loans to individual farmers through its Cannabis Loan Fund. LLFS is expanding their loan portfolio to include financing for cannabis farmers on or near the Leech Lake Reservation to fund the start-up or expansion of cannabis farming, allowing for a stronger entry to the  cannabis industry as part of the local and statewide economy.