The Cannabis Business Development (CBD) Grant

The Cannabis Business Development (CBD) Grant is a pilot equity initiative administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). This grant aims to strengthen New Jersey’s cannabis industry by offering financial support to early-stage cannabis businesses engaged in cultivation, manufacturing, retail, or testing. By providing reimbursement for operational costs, the program intends to foster an equitable, sustainable, and compliant cannabis business landscape. Under this program, eligible cannabis enterprises may receive a one-time reimbursement of $75,000. This funding is strictly for approved business expenses incurred within the last 36 months prior to application. Qualifying expenditures include rent and common area maintenance charges under a valid lease agreement, payroll costs, training for employees or contractors, and professional services necessary for cannabis business operations or licensing. Sub-leases, construction costs, business supplies, and equipment purchases exceeding $2,000 are among the expenses deemed ineligible. Applicants must hold an active annual license digital card from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) in the categories of Class 1 (Cultivator), Class 2 (Manufacturer), Class 5 (Retailer), or Testing Lab (excluding Medicinal-only labs). Further, applicants must be in substantial good standing with several New Jersey state agencies and provide a Certificate of Formation and a current tax clearance certificate. Previous recipients of NJEDA cannabis funding and Multi-State Operators are not eligible. Only one award is allowed per EIN and location. The application process opens on November 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. and will be available through the NJEDA Application Center. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis in the order of completed submissions until the three-year window expires or the fund is depleted. Applicants must pay a non-refundable $750 fee via credit card upon submission. Supporting documentation of expenses must be submitted using an NJEDA-provided template and include proof of payment such as canceled checks or bank statements. NJEDA reviews applications for completeness and may request clarifications within a 10-business-day response window. Incomplete or non-compliant applications may be declined or administratively withdrawn. Final decisions are communicated via email. Once approved and the agreement is executed, funds are disbursed via check. A 5% set-aside is reserved for applicants operating in designated Impact Zones. Additional guidance and updates are available through NJEDA’s official channels.

Ensure $75,000 in eligible expenses are well documented upfront; incomplete applications delay review and risk withdrawal.