Cresco Labs has announced the launch of its Social Equity & Educational Development (SEED) program, the cannabis industry’s first national social equity initiative promoting inclusion, expungement, equality, access and community engagement.
“With the U.S. cannabis industry at an inflection point with changing public perception, political support and legalization of adult use being considered, the industry is poised to become one of the leading job creators in the country,” said Cresco Labs CEO & Co-Founder Charlie Bachtell. “Our SEED initiative is designed to ensure that all members of our society have the skills, knowledge and opportunity to work in and own businesses in this industry. From collaborating with universities to develop cannabis-focused curriculum to working with local agencies and community organizations to sponsor expungement events, the SEED initiative consists of impactful programs and actionable solutions-based approaches that we believe will help make the cannabis industry a highly inclusive force for job creation. We are also focused on providing a pathway to business ownership through our comprehensive incubator program, which we believe will assist states in achieving the diversity goals they have established for their regulated cannabis programs. Through our commitment to driving positive social change and the various programs in the SEED initiative, our goal is to provide 20,000 individuals with the opportunity to seek employment in the cannabis industry by 2022.”
Cresco Labs began developing elements of the SEED program in early 2018 that focused around three main areas: Social Equity, a Community Impact Incubator program and Workforce Development/Education.
Social Equity
- Collaborating with community organizations and local agencies to facilitate expungement events that assist individuals formerly convicted of expungable offenses in obtaining clearance to work within the cannabis industry.
- Developing systematic outreach efforts to veteran, minority- and women-owned businesses to increase the diversity of vendors supporting the cannabis industry.
- Providing cannabis-focused small business development and support through educational events.
Community Impact Incubator
Cresco Labs has developed a model for a business incubator program that will provide or support the raise of the capital needed to build and ramp-up operations for licensed cultivators and/or dispensaries. "Eligibility will be for state-licensed applicants who enhance the diversity goals of Cresco Labs and the individual program of the state in which they reside," the team with the company explains. "The long-term goal of the incubator will be to have participants own the majority share of their business." In addition to that, Cresco Labs will provide practical, real-life experience in all facets of the cannabis business including business formation, regulatory, compliance, cultivation, manufacturing and operational support.
Education & Workforce Development
According the company, their program also consists of developing curriculum/course work with colleges and universities to educate and prepare students for pursuing a career in the cannabis industry. Moreover, collaborating with civic leaders and organizations to develop community education activities to help individuals better understand the employment opportunities available in the cannabis industry. Additionally. partnering with universities, colleges, and community colleges to develop pathways to employment in the cannabis industry including for those newly eligible for employment through expungement:Internship programs. This comprehends:
- Job training and placement assistance
- Career services
- Scholarships
- Entrepreneur program support
Cresco Labs is working with multiple community colleges, state universities, and Ivy League universities to establish the following: cannabis-focused courses of study in their respective business, agriculture, and entrepreneurship programs; scholarships for people from communities most negatively impacted by the war on drugs; and scholarly research in plant science. The company has a targeted internship program and has develop scholarship programs designed specifically for Central State University and Wilberforce University in Ohio. Additionally, Cresco Labs launched a national summer 2019 internship program for 50 cannabis-focused candidates to work at the Company.
For more information:
Cresco Labs
520 W Erie St Suite #220
Chicago, IL 60654
312-929-0993
info@crescolabs.com
crescolabs.com