Social Equity Grant Program

The Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA), operating under Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, administers the Social Equity Grant Program to advance economic opportunity and inclusion within the state’s adult-use cannabis industry. The initiative supports businesses that are majority-owned by individuals who qualify under the CRA’s Social Equity Program and who demonstrate a continued commitment through certification in the Social Equity All-Star Program. The fund is designed to help reduce barriers to success for communities disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition. The purpose of this program is to provide direct financial assistance to qualifying licensees to strengthen operations, promote regulatory compliance, enhance employee development, and invest in the well-being of local communities. Awardees may apply grant funds toward three primary categories of use: employee education, business needs, and community investment. Employee education expenses must support professional training or coursework relevant to the licensed entity’s business at accredited institutions. Business needs funding may be applied to costs associated with compliance, regulatory adherence, or other lawful operational necessities. Community investment expenditures may include donations or direct contributions to nonprofit or charitable organizations in good standing that positively affect the community where the entity operates. The CRA requires that eligible entities hold a valid adult-use cannabis license issued by the agency, maintain majority ownership (more than 50%) by approved social equity participants, and have current certification in the CRA’s Social Equity All-Star Program. Entities must adhere to all applicable terms and conditions for the funding year and comply with state debarment and eligibility requirements. Only one award will be made per qualifying entity, regardless of the number of licenses held. The total available pool for distribution in the current cycle is $1,000,000. Once the number of eligible applicants is determined, each approved grantee receives an equal share of that pool. For example, if 100 entities are approved, each would receive $10,000. This equitable distribution ensures consistent support for all qualified participants without a competitive ranking process. The application period for the Social Equity Grant Program opens on November 1, 2025, and closes on November 30, 2025. Applications must be submitted electronically via email to CRA-SEGrants@michigan.gov. The CRA reviews submissions after the deadline and notifies approved grantees following eligibility verification. Awardees will be required to comply with post-award documentation, including mid-term and final reports. The program operates on an annual basis, with future cycles expected to follow a similar timeline each fiscal year. Applicants or interested entities may contact the CRA’s Social Equity Program by email at CRA-SEGrants@michigan.gov or by phone at (517) 284-8599 for technical assistance. The agency’s mailing address for official correspondence is Cannabis Regulatory Agency, Social Equity Program, P.O. Box 30205, Lansing, Michigan 48909. Detailed program instructions are provided in the official CRA Social Equity Grant Program Application Instruction Booklet, available at the agency’s website.

Ensure all entity identifiers match CRA licensing records and that All-Star Program certification is current before submission.