WA State Cannabis Social Equity

WA State Cannabis Social Equity

Technical Assistance and Mentorship Application
The Washington State Department of Commerce, hereafter called “Commerce”, is responsible for awarding and administering grants for the Cannabis Social Equity Program (CSEP). The program aims to render aid in opening retail locations for the Social Equity Applicants (SEA) identified by the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) per RCW 69.50.335. Commerce will facilitate providing technical assistance and mentorship to SEA through a contracted partner and expert in both business development and operating a cannabis retail business.

Technical assistance application opens: March 1, 2026

Total grant, technical assistance and mentorship funds available under SB 5080 for fiscal year 2026: $2,888,000

CSEP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND MENTORSHIP ELIGIBILITY

SEAs must meet the following eligibility criteria for receiving technical assistance:

1.Cannabis Social Equity eligibility determined by Liquor & Cannabis Board (LCB) in 2025 under SB 5080.

2.Cannabis Social Equity licensees holding a license issued after April 1, 2023, and before July 1, 2024.

3.Completion of the CSEP Cannabis Training Module is encouraged.

REQUIRED APPLICATION DOCUMENTATION:

1.LCB Social Equity Eligibility Letter

2.Cannabis Social Equity license issued after 4/1/2023 and before 7/1/2024

APPLICATION COMMUNICATION:

For questions and inquiries regarding the application or grant program, please email segrants@commerce.wa.gov.

KINDLY NOTE THAT THIS APPLICATION CANNOT BE SAVED PRIOR TO SUBMISSION. PLEASE ENSURE ALL NECESSARY INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS ARE PREPARED IN ADVANCE SO YOU CAN COMPLETE YOUR SUBMISSION IN A SINGLE SESSION.
I am requesting Technical Assistance (TA) for the following: Please select the types of technical assistance you require to assist in your journey to successfully open and operate a cannabis retail store.
Section 1. Applicant Information

Please provide the following information:
1. SEA Business Name
2. SEA Business Address (Must reconcile with statewide vendor address)
3. Primary Point of Contact
4. Owner Information. Please provide the following information for the owner.
5. Owner #2 Information. If there is a second owner, please provide their information below.
6. Please provide a list of all other owners along with their respective percentage of ownership in the business, if applicable.
Section 2: Eligibility

Please provide the following information:
1. Where you issued a Social Equity Provisional Letter by the LCB, or do you have a Cannabis Social equity License issued after 4/1/2023 and before 7/1/2024?
2. Which of the two do you posses?
3. Did you complete the CSEP Cannabis Training Module
4. Eligibility Documentation. Please upload the following eligibility documentation: LCB SEA provisional letter and/or Cannabis Social Equity license issued after 4/1/2023 and before 7/1/2024

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Section 3. Demographic Survey

Completion of this section is optional:
1. Please list your race, ethnicity, national groups, and tribal/band affiliations with which you identify:
2. What is your gender
3. What is your sexual orientation
4. Do you have a disability
5. Are you a Military Veteran
6. What is your age
7. What is your household income?
8. What is the primary language spoken at home
ATTESTATIONS
1.    The information submitted to WA State Department of Commerce, including required supporting documentation, is true and correct.

2.    The applicant/business is in and will remain in, compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, ordinances, and orders, including but not limited to statutes and rules governing the Cannabis Social Equity grant program and LCB statues, rules governing cannabis license holders and applicants, all audit requirements, and the linked Special and General Terms and Conditions. The applicant/business will report any and all noncompliance with said laws that could have an adverse material impact on the business. Adverse material impact includes lawsuits, criminal or civil actions, bankruptcy proceedings, or regulatory action by a governmental entity.

3.    The SEA applicant/business agrees to complete the Grant Closeout Survey at the completion of the grant period of performance.

4.    I acknowledge that this application, together with the Cannabis Social Equity grant award letter that will issue if the application is approved, and the terms found at https://pdflink.to/e55f297f/ constitute the complete agreement between the SEA applicant/business and WA State Department of Commerce.
Authorized Official Name, Title
Authorized Official Signature
Date Signed

MonthDayYear
Date
Email
example@example.com
Should be Empty:

Section 1. Applicant Information

Section 2: Eligibility

Section 3. Demographic Survey

ATTESTATIONS