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State agencies tout Cannabis Training Academy enrollment and $20 million in grants for social equity businesses
Summary
The New Jersey Business Action Center and NJEDA told the Cannabis Regulatory Commission that the state’s Cannabis Training Academy has more than 1,200 registrants and that NJEDA’s $20 million pilot grant program has awarded joint‑venture and seed equity grants to social equity and other applicants, with staged disbursements to support openings.
At the Commission’s public meeting, the New Jersey Business Action Center and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority outlined programs designed to help entrepreneurs enter the regulated cannabis market.
Penny Weil, Deputy Executive Director of the Business Action Center, described the Cannabis Training Academy (CTA) as a no‑cost, state‑sponsored curriculum created to give entrepreneurs technical assistance that federally funded small business services cannot provide to cannabis operators. Weil said the CTA launched initial levels in October 2024 and that more than 1,200 people have registered for the Academy’s courses and live Q&A sessions. The CTA plans Spanish translations of its courses and will issue certificates of completion that applicants can use in NJCRC licensing applications.
Tahit Chappelle, Executive Director of the CTA, described the Academy’s structure — 10 levels, 60 courses, prerecorded materials supplemented by instructor Q&As and downloadable scripts — and said 28 instructors were selected from roughly 250 applicants. Chappelle said the program is becoming a national model and that other states have sought advice about designing similar curricula.
NJEDA staff (Ty Cooper, Chief Community Development Officer; Jenna Jones, Senior Development Officer; Aubrey F****, Senior Advisor) presented the agency’s $20 million pilot grant program. Jenna Jones outlined two grant tracks: a $250,000 joint‑ventures grant focused on applicants with site control and municipal approval (40% set‑aside for social equity applicants; 5% for impact zones) awarded in two disbursements (an initial payment after proof of site control and a second payment after the business opens) and a $150,000 seed equity grant for social equity applicants that does not require site control. NJEDA reported 163 joint‑venture applications with 48 awards (total JV funding $11.5 million; $8.8 million distributed so far) and 110 seed equity applications with 48 awards (total $7.2 million; $4.8 million distributed so far). NJEDA said 29 JV grantees are open and operating and that staff will continue follow‑up site visits over the next three years.
Commissioners asked about long‑term monitoring and survival rates for grantees; NJEDA said it will continue site visits and track performance, noting that the program was intentionally structured as grants rather than loans for the pilot.
Why it matters: Training and capital support are key elements for social equity outcomes in nascent cannabis markets. The CTA aims to reduce technical and compliance barriers, while NJEDA’s grants provide direct financial assistance to help licensed operators open and sustain operations.
Next steps: CTA will finish Spanish translations and implement certificate badging for course completers; NJEDA will continue disbursements and follow grantees, and the Commission requested ongoing updates on grantee performance.
Quote: "As of today, five months later, more than 1200 people are registered and going through the content," Penny Weil said. "We have advised other states like Rhode Island, Minnesota, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and even Colorado that reached out to us asking us how did we do this."
