To qualify for an Equity Grant, applicants must have completed the following:

  1. Applied for a City of Oakland Cannabis permit; the permit does not have to be issued for an applicant to apply for an Equity Grant.

    To apply for a City of Oakland Cannabis Permit, start here: https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/cannabis-permit-process-step-by-step

  2. Received an email from the Special Activity Permits Division verifying the Grant Applicant’s equity status.

    To obtain your equity status confirmation email, please contact cannabisapp@oaklandca.gov.

  3. Identified a location to operate the cannabis business for which they are applying for a Grant, and received a City of Oakland cannabis permit inspection card for this identified site.

    To obtain your permit inspection card for your identified site, please contact cannabisapp@oaklandca.gov.

  4. The equity qualified individual(s) of the Grant Applicant have enrolled in GRASS business coaching found here and completed and received a certificate from the Oaksterdam Financial Literacy Course found here.
  5. Completed a business plan, 12-month monthly financial projections, and a use of proceeds statement.

    Click here for sample business plan questions

    Click here for sample financial projections

    Click here for sample budget/use of proceeds statement

    Click here for sample marketing and sales techniques

  6. Secured access to a checking account or means by which to cash a check from the City of Oakland for the Grant amount.
  7. Completed additional Tier-specific requirements found here