(a) (1) An eligible local jurisdiction may, in the form and manner prescribed by the Governorâs Office of Business and Economic Development, submit an application to the Governorâs Office of Business and Economic Development for a grant to assist with the development of an equity program or to assist local equity applicants and local equity licensees through that local jurisdictionâs equity program. (2) An eligible local jurisdiction that has a local equity program shall include in its application submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) the equity assessment that was used to inform the creation of the local equity program. (3) The Governorâs Office of Business and Economic Development shall consider the following factors when reviewing an application: (A) Whether the local jurisdiction is an eligible local jurisdiction. (B) Whether the local jurisdiction has identified communities and populations within that local jurisdiction that have been disproportionately or negatively impacted by arrests and convictions for cannabis law violations and has demonstrated a nexus between the individuals served through the local equity program and the communities and populations identified by the local jurisdiction. (C) Whether the local jurisdiction has adopted or operates a local equity program, and, if so, the Governorâs Office of Business and Economic Development shall consider the following: (i) How long the local jurisdiction has operated the program. (ii) The outcomes of the program. (D) Whether the local jurisdiction has demonstrated the ability to provide, or created a plan to provide, the services identified in subdivision (b). (E) Whether the local jurisdiction has demonstrated a financial commitment to the implementation and administration of the program. (F) Whether the local jurisdiction has demonstrated a commitment to remove, or has taken steps to remove, local barriers to entering the legal cannabis market for local equity applicants and local equity licensees, including, but not limited to, developing a local regulatory framework that facilitates an equitable and economically just industry. (G) The number of existing and potential local equity applicants and local equity licensees in the local jurisdiction. (H) Any additional relevant and reasonable criteria the Governorâs Office of Business and Economic Development deems necessary. (4) The Governorâs Office of Business and Economic Development shall grant funding to an eligible local jurisdiction based on the eligible local jurisdictionâs compliance with paragraph (2), if applicable, and its review of the factors in paragraph (3). (b) (1) An eligible local jurisdiction that receives a grant pursuant to subdivision (a) shall use grant funds to do either of the following: (A) Assist the local jurisdiction in the development of a local equity program. (B) Assist local equity applicants or local equity licensees in that local jurisdiction to gain entry to, and to successfully operate in, the stateâs regulated cannabis marketplace. (2) For purposes of this subdivision, âassistâ includes, but is not limited to, any of the following methods: (A) To provide a low-interest or no-interest loan or a grant to a local equity applicant or local equity licensee to assist the applicant or licensee with startup and ongoing costs. For purposes of this paragraph, âstartup and ongoing costsâ include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) Rent. (ii) Leases. (iii) Local and state application, licensing, and regulatory fees. (iv) Legal assistance. (v) Regulatory compliance. (vi) Testing of cannabis. (vii) Furniture. (viii) Fixtures and equipment. (ix) Capital improvements. (x) Training and retention of a qualified and diverse workforce. (B) To support local equity program efforts to provide sources of capital to local equity applicants and local equity licensees. (C) To provide or fund direct technical assistance to local equity applicants and local equity licensees. (D
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