The City of Coachella has established a Social Equity Program dedicated to aiding individuals and businesses that were negatively or disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization within the city. The goal is to allow participants to gain entry and successfully operate in California’s regulated cannabis marketplace and economy.

Assistance for Individuals & Businesses

The City of Coachella is actively advocating for state grant funding to provide training to impacted individuals seeking careers in the cannabis industry. Cannabis cultivation and retail jobs frequently offer living wages, benefits, and the potential for advancement in a high-growth sector.

The intent of the impending program is to cover training costs to individuals for cultivation, retail operations, transportation, administration, management, and other positions in the cannabis industry. Opportunities are part-time and full-time, and many cannabis businesses are unionized, offering competitive salaries and benefits.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY: 

An applicant must provide documentation that sufficiently demonstrates that the applicant satisfies any one of the following classifications to be verified as a Social Equity Individual:

Individuals: An individual that is eligible to participate in the Program must be lawfully able to work in the United States and be twenty-one (21) years of age or older. They must satisfy a classification below as well:

Classification 1. A current or former resident of the City of Coachella who previously resided or currently resides in a low-income household and was either: a) arrested or convicted of a cannabis-related crime in the State of California between 1980 and 2016; or is b) an immediate family member of an individual in subsection a of Classification 1.

Classification 2. A current resident of the Coachella Valley who previously resided or currently resides in a low-income household and was arrested or convicted of a cannabis related crime in the State of California between 1980 and 2016. Annual family income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and net worth below $250,000.

Businesses: A cannabis business that is eligible to participate must provide a description of a statutory entity or business form that will serve as a legal structure for the applicant and a copy of its formation and organizing documents, including, but not limited to, articles of incorporation, certificate of amendment, statement of information, articles of association, bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement and fictitious business name statement. They must satisfy a Tier below as well:

Tier 1: A cannabis business with not less than 51% ownership by individuals meeting Classification 1 criteria that their business resides in the City of Coachella.

Tier 2: A cannabis business with not less than 51% ownership by individuals meeting Classification 2 criteria that their business resides in the City of Coachella.

Tier 3: A Cannabis Incubator Business that meets the following commitments:

1. Commits a minimum of 20% of its business to serve as an incubator to host verified participants of the Coachella Social Equity Program, giving the participants the ability to utilize te licensed business to engage in commercial cannabis activities.
2. Commits a minimum 20% oir its workforce are City of Coachella residents, measured by hours worked; and reserves contracts of its cannabis products or services and ancillary business support with eligible participants.

DOCUMENTATION AND REVIEW:

An applicant shall provide the following documents with the Program application, in addition to any other documentation that the City of Coachella deems necessary to determine the applicant’s eligibility.

1. Proof of income. Proof of income shall be supported by federal and state tax returns and at least one of the following documents from the last five years: two months of pay stubs; proof of current eligibility for General Assistance, food stamps, Medi-Cal/CalWORKs, Supplemental Security Income, or Social Security Disability Insurance, or similar documentation.
2. Proof of residence. Proof of residence shall be supported by a minimum of two of the following documents: California driver’s or identification card records, property tax billings and payments, signed rental agreement, verified copies of state or federal tax returns with an address in the geographic area of the City of Coachella, school records, medical records, banking records, Coachella Housing Authority records, or utility, cable, or internet company billing and payment records.
3. Proof of arrest or conviction for a cannabis-related crime. Proof of an arrest or conviction for a cannabis-related crime shall be demonstrated by federal or state court records indicating the disposition of the criminal matter, records expungement documentation, or any other applicable law enforcement record.

INFORMATIONAL BROCHURE - ENGLISH

INFORMATIONAL BROCHURE - SPANISH

PROGRAM APPLICATION- ENGLISH

PROGRAM APPLICATION - SPANISH

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