CSG Law Alert: NJEDA Cannabis Business Development Grant: Applications Open on November 13, 2025
Overview
Earlier this year, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (“NJEDA”) established the Cannabis Business Development (CBD) Grant (“Program”) to offer to eligible recreational cannabis businesses in New Jersey a one-time reimbursement of $75,000.00 for certain expenses. The funding is designed to help build a more equitable and sustainable cannabis industry in New Jersey by offsetting operational and regulatory costs incurred by early-stage companies within the prior 36 months from the date of submission of an application to the NJEDA for reimbursement under the Program.
The NJEDA will open applications on November 13, 2025, at 10:00 am on its website.1 Applications will be accepted on a rolling grant application basis, where grants will be awarded “first-come, first-served” as completed applications are submitted. Importantly, completed applications at the time of submission are given priority over applications that are submitted earlier but require additional information from the NJEDA.
Eligibility
To qualify for the Program, applicants must satisfy certain eligibility requirements and provide the NJEDA with, among any other items requested by the NJEDA, supporting documentation of the applicant’s eligibility as follows:
- Applicants must possess and provide a copy of a valid current annual license digital card as per the final recommendation issued by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (“CRC”) Office of Licensing in one of the following categories:
- Class 1 – Cultivator
- Class 2 – Manufacturer
- Class 5 – Retailer
- Testing Lab License (Medicinal-Only Labs are ineligible)
- Applicants must be in substantial good standing with (1) the CRC, (2) the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and (3) the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
- Applicants must provide a current tax clearance certificate that specifies the NJEDA as the selected agency to demonstrate the applicant is in substantial good standing with the New Jersey Division of Taxation.
- Applicants must provide a New Jersey Certificate of Incorporation or Formation.
- Applicants must certify that their business will remain open and operating and in good standing with the CRC at the location designated in their application for at least two years after receiving grant funds.
- Applicants must have $75,000.00 in eligible expenses with detailed supporting documentation for such expenses within the 36-month lookback period from the date of application submission. See below for further information on eligible expenses.
Applicants will be ineligible if any of the following circumstances apply:
- The applicant was awarded an NJEDA Joint Venture or Seed Equity Grant.
- The applicant holds a “Final Agency Decision Acceptance of Alternative Treatment Certification Authorization to Operate in Adult Personal-Use Market.”
- The applicant is a multi-state operator.
- A person who controls the applicant or owns or controls more than 1% of the equity of the applicant is an officer or employee of any agency, authority or other instrumentality of the State of New Jersey.
Eligible Expenses
Expenses, including, without limitation, rental expenses, payroll expenses, employee training expenses, and professional services (including legal and accounting services) are eligible for reimbursement through the Program. Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to, business supplies, controlled inventory, construction, equipment, equipment installation costs greater than $2,000.00, violations, fines, penalties, costs associated with an address not identified in the application, and any expense without sufficient proof of payment. Each expense identified for reimbursement should have at least two pieces of documentation: one to justify the price, date, and the applicant’s business location (e.g., an invoice), and another to confirm the expense has been paid (e.g., bank statements). Of note, applicants submitting expenses for rent must include in their submission (1) a Landlord Certification Form signed by the applicant and the applicant’s landlord and (2) a fully-executed lease.
If you have any questions about the Program, please contact the authors of this alert or your CSG Law attorney for more details.
1 Cannabis Business Development (CBD) Grant (Coming Soon) – NJEDA