Required Documentation
| PREREQUISITES (Click here for downloadable PDF version of checklist) | |
| 0 | Registered for an account on ElevateImpactOakland.com in order to complete the application |
| P1 | Contact information on the City of Oakland cannabis permit application |
| P2 | Email from Oakland Special Activity Permits Division stating that the Applicant equity status has been verified |
| P3 | City of Oakland cannabis permit inspection card for the site where the Applicant intends to operate their business |
| P4 | Applicant’s qualified equity individuals(s) have completed the Oaksterdam prerequisite course and have registered for GRASS. |
| P5 | Verified Equity Individual legal identification (photo of Driver’s license, Passport, Government ID) |
| P6 | For those who own more than 20% of the business, legal identification (photo of Driver’s license, Passport, Government ID) |
| P7 | Bank statement first page with the name of the party that the check should be made payable to (either to Verified Equity Applicant as an individual or to a Business of which the Verified Equity Applicant owns 50% or more) |
| P8 | If it has been more than 8 years since the initial verification of the applicant’s equity status, applicant must provide tax returns for the most recent past two years which demonstrate that Applicant had an annual income at or less than eighty (80) percent Oakland average median income (AMI) adjusted for household size. |
| P9 | Number in household as declared on tax return |
| Completed the following business and financial information: | |
| P10 | Written explanation for how the funding will be used |
| P11 | Budget, also known as a Use of Proceeds statement |
| P12 | Business plan |
| P13 | 12 month, monthly financial projections |
ASSESSMENT SCORE DOCUMENTATION | |
| A1 | Evidence of ownership percentage (%) |
| Resume or experience form from: | |
| A2 | – Applicant |
| A3 | – Partner(s) |
| Reference forms for one or more of the following: | |
| A4 | – Current or future customer |
| A5 | – Current or future supplier |
| A6 | – Work |
| A7 | – Strategic or joint venture partner |
| A8 | – Personal reference |
| A9 | – Someone that Applicant borrowed and repaid at least $1,000.00 |
| A10 | Description of Prior Successful Project |
| A11 | Assessment of Written Explanation of how funding will be used (uploaded with prerequisites) |
| A12 | Assessment of Use of Proceeds Statement/Budget (uploaded with prerequisites) |
| A13 | Assessment of Business Plan (uploaded with prerequisites) |
| A14 | Assessment of 12-month monthly financial statement (uploaded with prerequisites) |
TIER DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS | |
| I | Tier 1: Establish the Business |
| 1.1 Completed online Application | |
| 1.2 Fulfilled Prerequisites | |
| 1.3 Fulfilled Assessment Documentation | |
| 1.4 Proof of lease, sublease or incubator agreement | |
| 1.5 Personal Financial Statement | |
| II | Tier 2: Get Compliant |
| 2.1 Completed Tier 1 requirements | |
| 2.2 Proof of trademark search and business name usability | |
| 2.3 Organization documents for business entity | |
| 2.4 Operating agreement signed by business partners | |
| 2.5 Fictitious business name statement (or evidence of application) | |
| 2.6 City of Oakland tax certification (or evidence of application) | |
| 2.7 State of California’s seller’s permit (or evidence of application unless does not apply) | |
| 2.8 City of Oakland Certificate of Occupancy # (not the actual certificate) and field inspection date | |
| III | Tier 3: Open the Business |
| 3.1 Completed Tier 1 & 2 requirements | |
| 3.2 Temporary, provisional or annual state license | |
| 3.3 Evidence of compliance with Oakland’s Minimum Wage Ordinance | |
| 3.4 If Applicant has employees, upload paycheck stub and required quarterly payroll report that shows proof of compliance with Employment Development Department regulations (i.e. payroll tax, unemployment and disability insurance, etc.) | |
| 3.5 Evidence of bookkeeping system | |
| 3.6 Insurance with policy endorsement showing with the City of Oakland, its council members, directors, officers, agents, employees and volunteers listed as an additional insured (General liability is required. Auto insurance is required if you are a transportation or delivery business. Worker’s compensation is required if the business has employees). Click here to download the Insurance Checklist. | |
| IV | Tier 4: Start Operations |
| 4.1 Completed Tier 1, 2 & 3 requirements | |
| 4.2 Copy of EITHER: (i) Completed and signed inspection card; OR (ii) Copy of invoices for costs associated with bringing the Applicant’s cannabis facility into compliance with building & fire code requirements in order to obtain a completed inspection card | |
| V | Tier 5: Grow the Business |
| 5.1 Completed Tier 1, 2, 3 & 4 requirements | |
| 5.2 Copy of completed and signed inspection card | |
| 5.3 Proof that the business is EITHER: (i) 100% owned by individuals satisfying the City of Oakland equity criteria; OR (ii) Will match the City of Oakland grant or loan amount in cash with an equal sized loan or investment from a 3rd-Party, as described on the “Tier Match Form” found here. | |
| 5.4 LOAN ONLY: Has been previously issued a $100,000 City of Oakland Equity Loan, is not delinquent & has made on-time loan payments for the 3 previous consecutive months. 5.5 GRANT ONLY: Has previously been grants totaling $50,000 and is not delinquent on an equity loan & has made on-time loan payments for 3 previous consecutive months. | |
| VI | Tier 6: Expand the Business |
| 6.1 Completed Tier 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 requirements | |
| 6.2 Proof that the business is EITHER: (i) 100% owned by individuals satisfying the City of Oakland equity criteria; OR (ii) Will match the City of Oakland loan or grant amount in cash with an equal sized loan or investment from a 3rd-Party, as shown on the “Tier Match Form” found here. 6.3 LOAN ONLY: Has been previously issued a $100,000 City of Oakland Equity Loan, is not delinquent & has made on-time loan payments for the 3 previous consecutive months. 6.4 GRANT ONLY: Has previously been grants totaling $50,000 and is not delinquent on an equity loan & has made on-time loan payments for 3 previous consecutive months. | |
FOLLOW-ON FUNDING INFORMATION | |
| Confirmation of the following: | |
| F1 | Applicant is not delinquent on its equity loan and has made on-time loan payments for the three previous consecutive months (Program Manager to obtain) |
| F2 | Applicant is current on its tax payments due to the City of Oakland (Program Manager to obtain) |
| Collect the following: | |
| F3 | Receipts totaling 70% of the prior funds provided to Applicant |
| Completed the following business and financial information: | |
| F4 | Written explanation for how the follow-on funding will be used |
| F5 | Budget, also known as a Use of Proceeds statement, for the follow-on amount |
| F6 | Updated Business plan, if more than 1 year old |
| F7 | Updated 12 month, monthly financial projections, if more than one year old |
Verify that the following documentation is up-to-date and has not changed: | |
| F8 | Name on bank account |
| F9 | Business name |
| F10 | Tax returns for the most recent past two years which demonstrate that Applicant had an annual income at or less than eighty (80) percent Oakland average median income (AMI) adjusted for household size. |
| F11 | Number in household as declared on tax return |
| F12 | Evidence of ownership percentage (%) |
| F13 | Proof of lease, sublease or incubator agreement |
| F14 | Operating agreement signed by business partners |
| F15 | City of Oakland tax certification (or evidence of application) |
| F16 | State of California’s seller’s permit (or evidence of application unless does not apply) |
| F17 | City of Oakland Certificate of Occupancy # (not the actual certificate) and field inspection date (if inspection card is not complete) |
| F18 | Temporary, provisional or annual state license (has not expired) |
| F19 | Insurance with policy endorsement showing the City of Oakland, its council members, directors, officers, agents, employees and volunteers listed as an additional insured (has not expired) |
| F20 | Evidence of compliance with Oakland’s Minimum Wage Ordinance |
| F21 | If Applicant has employees, upload paycheck stub and required quarterly payroll report that shows proof of compliance with Employment Development Department regulations (i.e. payroll tax, unemployment and disability insurance, etc.) |
| EXHIBITS ON EQUITY FUNDING WEBSITE | |
| E1 | Assessment Scorecard |
| E2 | Loan Program Overview |
| E3 | Grant Program Overview |
| E4 | GRASS Business Program Overview |
| E5 | Equity Loan Modification Overview |
| E6 | Post Funding Reporting Requirements |
| E7 | Education Grant |
| E8 | Emergency Grant Program Overview |
| E9 | Get Your State License Grant |
| E10 | Rental Assistance Grant Program Overview |