CanGrow Farmer Training and Farmer Loan Grants

CanGrow grant applications are now open! Apply using the online applications linked below.

CanGrow farmer training and farmer loan financing grants will help eligible organizations provide educational resources, guidance, and low-interest loans for farmers who want to be part of the legal cannabis industry. While grants will be awarded to eligible organizations, Minnesota farmers will ultimately benefit by expert mentorship, compliance training, business planning resources, and low-interest loans.

Grant awardees (first round of funding)

CanGrow technical assistance grant recipients:

Wise Education Technology, Inc dba Oaksterdam University is awarded $49,985.
Leech Lake Financial Services is awarded $49,999.
Seeds Worth Sowing is awarded $49,990.
Minnesota Cannabis College is awarded $49,950.

CanGrow farmer loan financing grant recipient:

Leech Lake Financial Services is awarded $382,910.
- Loan services are scheduled to be available later this year – check back or subscribe to OCM's email newsletter for updates.

Award amount

Total available funding for the second round of grantees is $2,315,551. Grant awards for technical assistance in the second round of funding are expected to range from $10,000 to $100,000 per project. Grant awards for loan financing are expected to range from $200,000 to $500,000 per eligible organization (individual farmer loans will range from $2,500 to $50,000 or up to $150,000 for projects with matching funds). OCM intends to fund investments in eligible communities throughout the state. This is a competitive grant program.

Grant timeline (second round of funding)

Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. on June 1, 2026, with projects expected to begin by Oct. 1, 2026.

Important dates

April 9 - Request for Proposal (RFP) is released
May 19 - Requests for accommodations due no later than 4:30 p.m.
May 26 - Questions due no later than 4:30 p.m.
June 1 - Applications due no later than 4:30 p.m.

Objectives

CanGrow supports farmers navigating the legal cannabis industry by providing access to regulatory services and resources from trusted experts and community-based organizations. This initiative aims to accelerate market entry and growth for farmers ready to start or expand their farms, avoid costs and risks for farmers at all stages of readiness, and reduce compliance risks, costs, and infractions for cannabis farms.

The program has two focus areas:

CanGrow farmer training grants will fund eligible organizations to provide educational materials, training, and technical support to farmers who want to enter or expand into the legal cannabis industry. Project categories eligible for funding will be outlined in the request for proposals.

CanGrow farmer loan financing grants will fund nonprofit corporations to assist farmers by providing low-interest loans for entering the legal cannabis industry.

Grants will support communities disproportionately affected by the enforcement of cannabis laws, identified as where residents are eligible to be social equity applicants. Learn more about social equity qualifications.

Eligible organizations

For farmer loan grants

Nonprofit corporations

For farmer training grants

Organizations capable of helping farmers navigate the regulatory structure of the legal cannabis industry, particularly individuals facing barriers to education or employment, and may include:

Nonprofit organizations
Federally recognized Tribes
Educational institutions
Local units of government
Private businesses
Community groups
Partnerships between different types of organizations

Priority will be given to applications from organizations that demonstrate a history of successful training or navigation services, particularly for farmers facing barriers to education or employment. OCM will give weight to applications where the proposed grant projects will serve areas where residents are eligible to be social equity applicants.

Apply

The CanGrow application window is now open! Apply online through the CanGrow farmer loan financing grant online application and the CanGrow farmer training grant online application.

Application materials

Please review the CanGrow grant materials below:

Additional resources for CanGrow grant applicants

The Office of Cannabis Management’s website includes a growing wealth of resources and data that may be helpful for grant applicants in program development and outreach planning. Available information includes:

Public data on license holders including cultivators: Summary Application Data
Cannabis Market Monitor
License holder resources
Cannabis and hemp business guidance
Inventory management (Metrc)
Event resources
Social equity mixer series and videos:
- From Address to Approval Understanding Municipal Processes for Cannabis Business (recording of Feb. 11, 2026 event)
- New Year, New SOPs: Building the Systems Your Cannabis Business Needs (recording of Jan. 14, 2026 event)
- Calendar of social equity events (located at bottom of page)

Minnesota Statutes

For more information, go to Minnesota Statutes, section 342.73.

Webinars

Join us at an upcoming CanGrow farmer training and loans application technical assistance session to learn more about the requests for proposals and application navigation:

Learn more about the CanGrow request for proposals process by watching a recording of an informational session at the link below:

April 21, 2026 CanGrow Technical Assistance Session

Sample grant contracts

To support applicants in understanding the terms and conditions associated with this funding opportunity, links to sample grant contracts are provided below.

These sample contract documents are intended for informational purposes only. They illustrate the types of provisions, requirements, and standard language that may be included in a final grant contract if an award is made. The samples are not tailored to any specific applicant or project and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of final terms.

Applicants are encouraged to review these materials to better understand potential contractual obligations, including reporting requirements, eligible use of funds, payment processes, and compliance expectations. Final grant agreements may vary based on program requirements, risk assessment, and other factors.

Sample Grant Contract Agreement for Nongovernmental Organizations (updated 12/11/2025)
Sample Grant Contract Agreement for Local Governments (updated 12/11/2025)
A Sample Grant Contract Agreement for CanGrow Farmer Loans is available upon request – email grants.ocm@state.mn.us

Contact

For questions, email grants.ocm@state.mn.us.

Frequently asked questions⁠

How will these loans or grants affect farmers entering the cannabis industry?
Can organizations outside of nonprofits apply for these grants?
Are nonprofit companies going to be running cannabis cultivation?
Are the grants intended for farmers only, or do they also support other industry participants?

The grants primarily target farmers, but programs like the Cannabis Industry Navigation Program (CanNavigate), through the Minnesota Department of Employment Economic Development (DEED), are designed to support a broader range of individuals, including those who are social equity verified and not necessarily involved directly in farming.
Will this grant program fund cannabis businesses directly?
Are there restrictions on receiving multiple grants?

No, there are currently no disqualifications for receiving multiple grant programs. Different programs support different audiences. For example, the CanGrow Farmer Training Grant supports farmers, while the CanNavigate program supports a broader industry of social equity verified individuals. However, organizations may only submit one application in response to each of the CanGrow farmer training grant and CanGrow farmer loan grant RFPs. Eligible organizations may apply to both CanGrow grant programs, but each application will be reviewed as a stand-alone project.
Are nonprofit organizations required to have at least three years of experience in the agricultural industry to qualify for the grants?

For the loan financing program, nonprofit organizations must demonstrate relevant agricultural expertise, which can be satisfied by having individuals with agricultural business development experience on their board of directors. This ensures the organization has the capacity to support farmers effectively. However, other organizations without direct agricultural experience may still qualify for technical assistance training grants, which have more flexible eligibility criteria.
Can you include training activities and expenses in a loan grant as well as a loan activity and distribution?

Generally, no. The loan financing grant is intended specifically to provide direct loans to farmers, not to fund training activities. However, if certain training or community engagement components—like outreach activities and helping applicants understand how to apply for a loan—are directly tied to administering the loan program, they may be considered allowable administrative expenses. The CanGrow farmer training grant has a 10% cap on administrative expenses; the CanGrow farmer loan grant has a 15% cap on administrative expenses.
Can training be included as a requirement for receiving a loan?

Yes. While it’s not required to apply for both grants, an organization may choose to apply for both the training and loan grants and structure their program so that participation in a training component is a prerequisite for accessing loan funds. This approach is allowed as long as it aligns with the intent and guidelines of both programs.
How will we know which organizations got these grants to fund loans to farmers?
When will the loans start being distributed?
As an outdoor farmer getting licensed in the next couple of months and planting outdoors, does that mean I have to wait until next season to participate?
As a pre-approved social equity applicant, will there be any help for farming this year through the loan program?
When does the period of performance begin or end?

The period of performance will be noted in the grant contract agreement. For the training grant, the 12-month period typically begins from the project’s official start date, or the start date noted in the RFP. In contrast, the loan program can operate for up to five years, based on the loan terms and project plan approved by OCM.
Can you clarify how the loan program funding flows?
What do you mean by certified loan program?

A certified loan program refers to a structure where the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) provides funding to an organization, which then uses that funding to establish a loan program for farmers. These loans are intended to be repaid and can support various business costs such as startup expenses and other allowable uses outlined in the Request for Proposals (RFP). To qualify, the organization must demonstrate the ability and legal authority to administer a lending program.
Is that self-certification or OCM certified?

The certification is not self-attested. Organizations must already be legally registered, licensed, and certified to issue loans under applicable federal and state lending laws. OCM does not issue certification itself—the authority to lend must be a built-in function of the organization’s operations as a business or nonprofit.
Are there any legal organizations or entities that can assist with completing the grant paperwork?
Will the deck and recording from the informational sessions be made available?