Social Equity Technical Assistance Program

Verified Equity Applicants are individuals who have applied for a cannabis permit in the City of Oakland and have been verified by the City Administrator’s office as Qualified Equity Applicants. The permit does not have to be issued for an applicant to apply for technical assistance (TA). Gaining Resources to Achieve Sustainable Success (GRASS)  webinars are available to all Oakland-Verified Equity Applicants (VEAs) 

How do I begin the Oakland application process?

If you are not yet a VEA with the City of Oakland, click here to become an Equity Applicant or Incubator.

How do I begin the loan/grant underwriting process?

If you are a VEA but have not yet applied for grant money, please submit your Equity Grant Application with Elevate Impact Oakland to become a Verified Equity Grant Approved Applicant, eligible for free Oaksterdam University Programs and the educational grant.

 

Each time that an Oakland Verified Equity Applicant (“VEA”) applies for a new or follow-on Equity Grant or Loan, the VEA will be required to take an Oaksterdam elective course or webinar and pass a quiz to show completion. The GRASS Elective or Webinar is offered free to the VEA and allows you to pinpoint areas of interest or drill down to fill particular knowledge gaps. Electives are self-paced courses that you can complete anytime at your convenience, including recorded Webinars.

 

To get verified as an Equity Applicant with the city of Oakland and enroll in programs with Oaksterdam University, please fill out this form.​The City of Oakland launched a brand new Gaining Resources Educational Growth Grant in collaboration with Oaksterdam University and Elevate Impact Oakland.

$5,000 Educational Grant, paid to eligible Oakland Verified Equity Applicants who have both:

1. Completed the equity grant underwriting process (“Grant-Approved”)
2.  Received a Certificate of Completion from one of Oaksterdam’s Certification Programs, your choice from below:

Business of Cannabis 

• Self-Paced Course

Commercial Horticulture

• Self-Paced Course

Extractions and Manufacturing
 

• Self-Paced Course

Oaksterdam Certification Programs are free for Oakland Verified Equity Grant Approved Applicants. To get verified as an Equity Applicant with the city of Oakland and enroll in programs with Oaksterdam University, please fill out this form.

OU Certification Programs are built and taught by some of the industry’s most experienced and respected cultivators, business owners, and advocates. Recognized industry-wide for our trailblazing academic environment, OU continues to set the standard for cannabis training. This curriculum is designed to give you the most extensive education available for the cannabis industry.

Upon receiving an Oaksterdam Program Certification, the Oakland Verified Equity Grant-Approved Applicant will be eligible to receive the $5,000 Gaining Resources Educational Growth Grant funding to help grow their cannabis business. Oaksterdam certification courses completed before August 2022 may not be used to redeem the Educational Grant. If the Oakland Verified Equity Grant-Approved Applicant has completed all of the Oaksterdam Certification Courses before August 2022, they will need to meet equivalent coursework requirements (customized by Oaksterdam and the Applicant) to be eligible for the $5,000 grant. 

Course Types: 

We have different certification courses to accommodate work and personal schedules and individual learning preferences.

• Self-Paced: Get certified by studying where and when you want. The curriculum includes text, videos, and a library of resources.
• 1:1 Coaching: Get virtual personal coaching over zoom or phone from our experts who will help you navigate your business concerns and help you identify strategy and resourcesanswer any questions you have.

 

An Oaksterdam education will help your business thrive, and you can benefit from a strong training that prepares you to mitigate risk and be competitive. Oaksterdam University Certifications are recognized and trusted worldwide, providing you with multiple career paths and networking opportunities. Oaksterdam alumni are prepared to become self-directed, and better able to leverage the opportunities presented by the City of Oakland Cannabis Race and Equity Program. These programs are suitable for legacy operators to ensure regulatory compliance and industry best practices. This knowledge is vital if you are planning to enter the cannabis industry. Thanks to the contribution of the City of Oakland for making this project possible.