For Immediate Release
Office of Cannabis Management announces recipients of CanGrow grant funds to help farmers succeed in the cannabis industry
Applications now being accepted for next round of CanGrow funding
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.”
The four recipients of technical assistance grants include programs offering compliance training, education, business planning, mentorship, assistance with legal and environmental concerns, and opportunities to share knowledge and best practices.
The recipient of the loan financing award will administer loans to individual farmers ranging from $2,500 to $50,000, or up to $150,000 for projects with matching funds. Farmers receiving individual farmer loans do not have to currently grow cannabis; award funds can be used to support existing farmers in expanding their work into the cannabis industry. All CanGrow funds must be used for cannabis-related projects or initiatives.
In the first round of CanGrow, the office awarded technical assistance grants totaling $199,924 and $382,910 for financing individual farmer loans.
First round of CanGrow grant awardees
Technical assistance grants
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Wise Education Technology, doing business as Oaksterdam University (St. Paul), is awarded $49,985 for its Creating a Compliant Cultivation Plan, an industry-recognized online, on-demand, comprehensive Horticulture Mastery Certification Program with one-on-one and group coaching to support business license applicants in developing viable and compliant commercial cultivation plans and facilities.
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Seeds Worth Sowing (Minneapolis) is awarded $49,990 for its From Barriers to Business: Social Equity Cannabis Workforce and Enterprise Support project. This project will provide culturally responsive technical assistance, hands-on training, and regulatory guidance to support social equity-qualified farmers to enter or expand within Minnesota’s legal cannabis industry. Seeds Worth Sowing—in collaboration with Minnesota Black Farmers Association, Grand Risings Farm, and other trusted partners—will deliver workshops, site tours, one-on-one consulting, and grant navigation resources.
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Minnesota Cannabis College (Minneapolis) is awarded $49,950 for its Cannabis Compliance Navigator: Empowering Social Equity Farmers program. This initiative aims to equip 50 social equity-eligible farmers in Minnesota with the knowledge and tools to navigate the legal cannabis industry's regulatory framework. Through a structured 12-month program, participants will receive comprehensive training, mentorship, and resources to achieve licensure and establish compliant cannabis operations.
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Leech Lake Financial Services (Cass Lake) is awarded $49,999 for its Cannabis Training Program, a new program that helps develop successful local cannabis farmers as part of the local and statewide economy. This training will help increase the success of current farmers by expanding their cannabis farming knowledge and skills.
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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.
“At a time of higher farming costs and uncertainty in the agricultural landscape, these grants expand opportunities for Minnesota farmers to explore another crop that could diversify their income and contribute to the state’s cannabis supply chain,” said Jess Jackson, director of social equity for OCM. “CanGrow aims to provide equitable decision-making power, ensuring sustainability and justice throughout the entire state’s agricultural system.”
There is approximately $2.3 million available for the next round of grant awards. The range of the grant awards for technical assistance has increased in this round to between $10,000 and $100,000 per project. Loan financing for organizations remains unchanged, ranging from $200,000 to $500,000 per organization, with individual farmer loans ranging from $2,500 to $50,000, or up to $150,000 for projects with matching funds (Minnesota Statutes, section 342.73, subd. 5).
How to apply
CanGrow farmer training and farmer loan grants will help eligible organizations provide educational resources, guidance, and low-interest loans for farmers who want to be part of the legal cannabis industry.
The CanGrow farmer training grant is designed for qualified organizations or individuals that want to provide support for Minnesota farmers entering or expanding into the state’s cannabis market; priority is given to applications that demonstrate a history of successful education, training or navigation services. Proposed activities may include training programs, curriculum development, one-on-one guidance, networking opportunities, and support for farmers to attend conferences and other industry learning opportunities.
The CanGrow farmer loan grant supports qualified nonprofit organizations—typically community development financial institutions (CDFIs) with experience in agricultural lending—in administering low-interest loan programs. These programs expand access to capital for farmers seeking to enter or grow their participation in the legal cannabis industry.
Organizations applying for a CanGrow grant should review the request for proposals carefully and submit a written application that explains their proposed project, the community's needs, and the expected positive outcomes. Applications will be evaluated based on their potential community impact, the organization’s track record of developing and delivering training, and community support and partnership in project implementation and delivery. OCM also gives weight to applications where the proposed grant projects will serve areas where residents are eligible to be social equity applicants.
CanGrow farmer training grantees must utilize the funds within one year, while CanGrow Farmer Loan grantees will have a five-year contract with potential for extension. Project activities must begin within 90 days of the award notice. Priority will be given to organizations with a demonstrated track record of success in serving communities with potential social equity applicants and farmers with barriers to education and employment.
Applications are due by June 1, 2026.
CanGrow funding is awarded through a competitive process with review by a committee representing content and community specialists. OCM expects to announce selected grantees/awardees in the fall. Award funding may only be used for eligible expenditures during the grant’s effective dates and with a fully executed grant agreement in place.
CanGrow grants are part of a larger collection of grants that support and provide funding for technical assistance, financial capital, and workforce training for the Minnesota legal cannabis industry. The other grant programs are CanRenew, also managed by OCM, and three programs that are managed by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED): CanStartUp, CanNavigate, and CanTrain.
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