ENTREPRENEURSHIP EMPOWERMENT

The City of Long Beach (City) is excited to announce the launch of two Cannabis Entrepreneurship Academies expected to begin in March 2021. The purpose of each Cannabis Entrepreneurship Academy is to provide free direct technical assistance to help individuals who qualify for the City’s Cannabis Social Equity Program prepare for the process of starting a cannabis business.

Over the summer and fall of 2020, the City administered a survey to Equity Applicants who identified business planning support as a key area of need. The City’s Economic Development Department has selected two vendors who will each design and deliver the Entrepreneurship Academies. Each Academy will consist of an 8-week business planning series that will be led by an instructor and will cover a variety of topics including, but not limited to:

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• Identifying your target market

• Planning for your supply chain

• Financial planning

• Forming a business entity

• Developing products and services

• Marketing

• And More technical data within all aspect of the cannabis industry from The Cannabis Commerce Council of Long Beach and associated SME'S (Subject Matter Experts)

 

Participants will join a cohort that will complete each Academy together. Each participant that completes an entire Academy will walk away with an actionable business plan and presentation. Graduates of the Entrepreneurship Academies that decide to continue their journey of starting a cannabis business may benefit from additional one-on-one advisory services that will be made available after the Academies are completed.

Due to the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, all courses will be held online via a web conferencing platform. The City will make every effort to ensure interested individuals can participate.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please complete the simple interest form below by Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. (PST).

Cannabis Equity Business Entrepreneurship Academy Interest Form

Should you have any questions about the Entrepreneurship Academies, please contact Evelyn Amado, Economic Development Fellow, by email at Evelyn.Amado@longbeach.gov or by phone at (562) 570-6705. The City looks forward to hearing from you!

 

Upcoming Cannabis Social Equity Webinar:

The City of Long Beach is also partnering with the State of California, Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) to host an introductory cannabis social equity webinar on technical assistance that is available to help equity applicants navigate the process of applying for a State cannabis business license. The webinar will also present an overview of direct technical assistance available to equity applicants who apply for a local cannabis business license in the City of Long Beach and how the State licensing process fits into the local licensing process. As a verified equity applicant of the Long Beach Cannabis Social Equity program, you will receive email updates on when this webinar is available.

Sincerely,

Office of the City Manager | Office of Cannabis Oversight

411 W. Ocean Blvd., 10th Floor | Long Beach, CA 90802

Office: 562.570.5250 | Email: MarijuanaEnforcement@longbeach.gov

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ATTENTION ALL INQUIRING ENTREPRENEURS OUTSIDE THE LONG BEACH JURISDICTION!!

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE & PLEASE TAKE OUR SURVEY FROM OUR WEBSITE TO GET UPDATES ON UPCOMING WORKSHOP DATES AS WE ATTEND TO ASSURE THAT WE HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY TO CANNABIS EDUCATION & RESOURCES WITHIN ALL COMMUNITIES OF COLOR NO MATTER YOUR STATUS OF RESIDENCY.