The City of Pomona is pleased to announce that Phase 4: Final Scoring of the Commercial Cannabis Permit Program (CCPP) is now complete and all scores have been tabulated. A ranking by total score is listed below. The top two applicants in the Retail Storefront and Microbusiness categories will be offered a Commercial Cannabis Permit after first providing required documentation including either an option to lease or other binding commitment for the property location listed in the application within 10 business days from the date of posting results (date of posting is October 8, 2020). If the required documentation is not provided to the satisfaction of the City, the offer of a Commercial Cannabis Permit would be rescinded and the next highest-ranking applicant would then be offered a Commercial Cannabis Permit. A time extension of 10 additional business days may be granted at the sole discretion of the City if the applicant is unable to timely secure the required documents due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Final Scoring of Storefront Retailers

(Download PDF version of table)

(Date of Posting: October 8, 2020)

Final Scoring of Microbusinesses

(Download PDF version of table)

(Date of Posting: October 8, 2020)

The City of Pomona has prepared a fact sheet for the two cannabis-related ballot initiatives that will be considered in the November 2020 local election. You may download a copy of the fact sheet below.

• Fact Sheet for 2020 Cannabis-Related Ballot Initiatives (English)
• Hoja Informativa Iniciativas Electorales Relacionadas Con El Cannabis del 2020

Phase 3 of the four-phase CCPP permit application process is the Public Meeting. All applicants that scored at least 800 points in Phase 2, Initial Scoring, have been identified as Finalists and are eligible to participate in the Public Meeting.

Purpose of Public Meeting

The purpose of the Public Meeting is for Finalists to present their application to the community, and for the community to ask questions of the Finalist. This is not a public hearing. No decisions or award of CCPP permits will be made at a Public Meeting. Upon completion of all Public Meetings, the City will begin Phase 4, Final Scoring. This will include a 100-point evaluation of the Finalist’s performance at the Public Meeting. Decisions or award of CCPP permits can only be made upon the conclusion of all four phases. As this is an active four-phase process, the City will not be releasing applications to the general public. The Public Meeting itself serves as the formal venue for the Finalist to present their application for questions from the community.

We encourage all interested parties to review the Public Meeting Guidelines (updated 7-25-2020) to understand the rules and format of public meetings, how individuals can submit comments and ask questions, and how Finalists will be evaluated.

Types of Permits

There are two permit types that may be presented at a Public Meeting, defined as follows:

"Microbusiness" means a commercial cannabis business that is engaged in at least three of the following four activities: storefront retail, indoor cultivation up to 10,000 square feet of canopy, distribution, and non-volatile manufacturing. It is considered a "vertically integrated" business model. The City is issuing up to two permits for Microbusiness citywide.

"Storefront Retailer" means a commercial cannabis business that is engaged in storefront retail activity with ancillary delivery. The City is issuing up to two permits for Storefront Retailer citywide. Delivery may not be permitted in the City unless it's ancillary as part of one of these two potential permits.

Participating in Public Meetings

All meetings will be conducted virtually through Zoom, a free video chat service. After the completion of all public meetings, recordings will be posted online. To participate in a Public Meeting, you will need to Register. Please review the Public Meeting Schedule below and click the Registration link for the meeting that you would like to attend. Upon registering, you will receive an e-mail with a unique link and password to the Zoom webinar. In the webinar, you will be allowed to ask a question by either using the written "Q/A" button or the verbal "Raise Hand" feature. Questions are limited to 100 written words or 60 seconds of verbal comment. Finalists will be allowed up to 2 minutes to respond to individual questions. You may also provide written comment to cannabis@ci.pomona.ca.us. Please include the public meeting date, time, and Applicant name in either the subject or body of the e-mail. Written comments will be included in the Applicant's public meeting record and provided to the City for consideration in the Phase 3 and 4 process.

Finalists are required to notify all owners and occupants located within 1,000 feet of the proposed location at least 10 days prior to the public meeting. Please review the Bilingual Public Notification Template which was used for all Public Meetings.

Public Meeting Schedule

The City has completed public meetings and each meeting is currently under evaluation. Please follow the links below to view recordings of these meetings. Please note that each recording includes a searchable transcript generated by artificial intelligence, which has not been reviewed or modified by City staff; therefore, please excuse any typos or errors in transcription.

Saturday, July 25, 2020

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Business Name: Authentic 909 LLC
Permit Type: Microbusiness
Proposed Location: 3207 Pomona Boulevard
View Meeting Recording

1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Business Name: ASHE Pomona LLC
Permit Type: Microbusiness
Proposed Location: 2547 Pomona Boulevard
View Meeting Recording

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Business Name: United Pomona dba New Generation
Permit Type: Microbusiness
Proposed Location: 196 University Parkway
View Meeting Recording

4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Business Name: Sarene LLC
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 1928 West Holt Avenue
View Meeting Recording

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Business Name: California Dispensaries, Inc. dba Strains Dispensary
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 1940 West Holt Avenue
View Meeting Recording

6:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
Business Name: HPC of Pomona LLC
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 2400 Valley Boulevard
View Meeting Recording

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Business Name: DBO Investments POM, LLC
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 2776 North Garey Avenue
View Meeting Recording

5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.
Business Name: California Erudite Ventures
Permit Type: Microbusiness
Proposed Location: 2845 Pomona Boulevard
View Meeting Recording

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Business Name: Green World Express Pomona
Permit Type: Microbusiness
Proposed Location: 2720 Pomona Boulevard
Cancelled

7:45 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
Business Name: Cortessa Pomona LLC
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 728 East Mission Boulevard
View Meeting Recording

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Business Name: Coastal Retail Pomona LLC
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 560 East Holt Avenue
Cancelled

4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Business Name: VGP Enterprises LLC
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 420 East Holt Avenue
View Meeting Recording

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Business Name: AES Investment Group LLC dba Dr. Greenthumb Pomona
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 520 East Holt Avenue
View Meeting Recording

6:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
Business Name: Varda Pomona Corp.
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 560 East Holt Avenue
View Meeting Recording

8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Business Name: EEL-Pomona dba Connected-Pomona
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 454 East Holt Avenue
View Meeting Recording

Saturday, August 1, 2020

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Business Name: Harvest of Pomona LLC
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 1470 West Holt Avenue
View Meeting Recording

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Business Name: Authentic 909 LLC
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 1605 West Holt Avenue
View Meeting Recording

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Business Name: New Culture Growth, Inc.
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 1515 West Holt Avenue
View Meeting Recording

1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Business Name: Kindred Empowerment Pomona LLC
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 1542 West Holt Avenue
View Meeting Recording

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Business Name: E7 Pomona LLC
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 1476 West Holt Avenue
View Meeting Recording

4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Business Name: ASHE Pomona LLC
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 1565 West Holt Avenue
View Meeting Recording

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Business Name: Haven #6 LLC
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 1721 West Holt Avenue
View Meeting Recording

6:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
Business Name: Eazy I Holdings, LLC
Permit Type: Storefront Retailer
Proposed Location: 1483 West Holt Avenue
View Meeting Recording

Thursday, August 13, 2020

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (rescheduled from Tuesday, July 28, 2020)
Business Name: Green World Express Pomona
Permit Type: Microbusiness
Proposed Location: 2720 Pomona Boulevard
View Meeting Recording

The City’s third-party evaluator, HdL Companies, has completed all evaluations for Commercial Cannabis Permit Program (CCPP) applications received by the City of Pomona. The results are available to the general public for download below, rank ordered by score, with the business name provided as listed on the cover sheet of the application.

07/17 Update: Please note that the rank ordering is for communication purposes only, and that any score above 800 is an equally eligible Finalist, as all Finalists will be re-scored out of 1,000 points by City staff in Phase 4: Final Scoring. Initial Scores from HdL will not be added to Final Scoring and will only be used by City staff as a point of reference.

The City received 31 applications: 24 for Storefront Retail, and 7 for Microbusiness. Applicants that scored 800 points or higher out of 1,000 will be invited to participate in Phase 3 and 4 of the evaluation.

• Results of Phase 2 Scoring (Microbusiness)
• Results of Phase 2 Scoring (Storefront Retailer)

The application period ended at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 30. We appreciate the time and effort that each applicant put forth in submitting an application to open cannabis-related businesses in the City of Pomona. We recognize that this process was made more complex by COVID-19, and so we want to extend our appreciation for working through the digital submission process. We would like to share some summary statistics and a timeline for the program. For questions, please e-mail cannabis@ci.pomona.ca.us.

The City of Pomona has received 31 unique applications for its Commercial Cannabis Permit Program.

When organized by permit type: 24 of the 31 applications are for storefront retailer, of which there are 2 permits available to award. 7 of the 31 the applications are for microbusiness, of which there are 2 permits available to award. No applications were received for the four available permits for individual manufacturing, testing, distribution, and indoor cultivation.

When organized by sub area: 23 applications represent Subarea 1; 1 application represents Subarea 2; 7 applications represent Subarea 3; No applications were received for Subarea 4.

When organized by parcel: 26 unique locations are represented, which means that 5 locations include one or more applicant.

When organized by applicant: 29 unique applicants submitted, which means two applicants have submitted for multiple license types.

74 zoning verification letters were issued.

The Point of Contact is now organizing applications to move on to Phase Two. The City expects to receive initial scores back from HDL in mid to late June, at which point it will announce Finalists. Finalist community meetings (Phase Three) are expected in July, and Final Scoring (Phase Four) is expected in August. At this time, the City of Pomona expects to award permits by September.

This is an update on the Commercial Cannabis Permit Program. We have officially launched the program starting March 17, 2020 and applications are due by April 30. In light of the public health concerns related to COVID-19, we’d like to make the following updates:

1. The application deadline has been extended to 6:00 p.m., Thursday, April 30. 
2. We have shifted from “physical submissions only” to “electronic submissions only.” Please review the updated Implementation Guide, linked below. Zoning Verification forms will be accepted electronically at cannabis@ci.pomona.ca.us. Completed applications will be submitted via Dropbox and telephone appointment; each applicant will be issued a unique upload link upon confirmation of their submittal appointment. Absolutely no physical submissions will be accepted.
3. Appointments for applications will take place by telephone or video conference only, and can be scheduled by e-mailing cannabis@ci.pomona.ca.us. Absolutely no in-person appointments will be scheduled. 
4. As our Points of Contact may be teleworking during this time, we strongly encourage you to “e-mail first, call second,” as it may take us a bit longer to field calls and voicemails remotely.
5. All application forms are available to download. We strongly encourage you to complete the Zoning Verification Form as the first step as soon as possible. 
6. Once the City's Point of Contact has taken in an application, an invoice will be generated and sent to the Applicant's Point of Contact identified in the cover sheet. All application payments will be accepted using one of the following methods:
   • Mail to City of Pomona, 505 S. Garey Ave., Box 660, Pomona, CA 91769
   • Place in silver drop box in the east parking lot of City Hall; Please only submit check or money order payments

Thanks, and stay safe! 

The Commercial Cannabis Permit Program (CCPP) is a merit-based permitting program for all commercial cannabis businesses operating in the City of Pomona. The City has issued four licenses (two storefront retailer, two microbusiness) under this program and is not currently accepting new applications. The CCPP will be revisited in Fall 2021 for future direction by City Council. The CCPP will begin accepting applications for commercial cannabis permits on 7:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 17, 2020, until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2020. We encourage all prospective applicants to review the information below for guidance on how to apply, rules and regulations, and contact information.

The City's designated points of contact for the CCPP are:

Monica Montanez, Community Health Worker
cannabis@pomonaca.gov
909-643-4950

Ata Khan, Planning Manager
909-620-3765

Anita D. Gutierrez, MPL, AICP, Director of Development Services
909-620-2421

Please direct all questions to these points of contact exclusively. If they are unable to assist you, a different point of contact will be assigned to you.

The "Implementation Guide" and "Memos" serve as the set of rules, regulations, standards, and policies governing the CCPP, as authorized under Sec. 68-9(j) and Sec. 68-34(b-d). Additional clarifications on these guidelines may also be found through FAQs and stand alone guidelines on this page, uploaded on an as-needed basis as the Points of Contact navigate the four-phase permit process.

• CCPP Implementation Guide (updated 7/24)
• CCPP Memo No. 2020-01 (Designating CCPP Evaluators)
• CCPP Memo No. 2020-02 (Designation of Phase 3 Evaluator)
• CCPP Memo No. 2020-03 (Designation of Phase 4 Evaluators)

The CCPP offers a waiver of Phase 1-4 application fees for any applicant that qualifies as an Equity Applicant. An equity applicant must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Has lived in the City of Pomona for the past five years.
2. Has a cannabis-related conviction on file.
3. Has 51% or greater ownership stake in the proposed commercial cannabis business.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to download the Equity Applicant form below, attach all relevant documents, and submit to cannabis@ci.pomona.ca.us. The Point of Contact will verify the information and issue a determination within three business days.

• Equity Applicant Form

3/24/2020 Update: All application forms are now available to download.

3/17/2020 Update: Due to the ongoing public health concerns related to COVID-19, we are shifting all submissions to electronic-only. As stated in the Implementation Guide, Step #1 is submitting a Zoning Verification Form. You may download that form below. The remainder of the application forms are being uploaded by Monday, March 23, as we adjust to new telework processes at City Hall.

3/16/2020 Update: As stated in the Implementation Guide, Step #1 is submitting a Zoning Verification Form, which will be accepted electronic-only. Please expect that form to be available by mid-day Tuesday, March 17. The remainder of the forms will be available by Thursday, March 19, as we adjust to new telework processes at City Hall.

3/12/2020 Update: We expect to have all application forms available by Tuesday, March 17, to coincide with the launch of the program. In light of public health concerns related to COVID-19, we will shift Zoning Verification Form applications from physical submissions by appointment only to electronic submissions only.

Application Instructions: Please note that each application form is a fill-in PDF. All applicants must use the fill-in feature. Handwritten/printed answers will not be accepted. If you have difficulty completing the fill-in PDF, please communicate with the Point of Contact. Each question on the application form may include a note allowing for an attachment, or a specific number of additional pages. If a question does not state this option, you are limited to the fill-in text box on the page. Please do not attach extra pages to the application unless explicitly allowed in the form.

1. Zoning Verification Form
2. Equity Applicant
3. Cover Sheet
4. Qualifications (updated 4/14 to remove "multi-line" formatting on Ownership lines, updated 4/2 to clarify definition of "Owner")
5. Operations (updated 4/14 to correct font size from "Auto" to "10" on Transportation, Question #2 and Manufacturing Question #3)
6. Security Plan
7. Environmental Benefits (updated 4/14 to clarify Air Quality Plan components)
8. Labor and Employment Plan (updated 4/21 to clarify Collective Bargaining Agreement does not include intent statement, updated 4/14 to clarify Collective Bargaining Agreement points, page limits, and remove "scroll long text" formatting on Living Wage question)
9. Neighborhood Integration Plan
10. Public Benefits (updated 4/23 to clarify definition of recipient of public benefits as sensitive uses as defined in Business Ordinance, and add language discouraging applicant contact with sensitive uses).

We encourage you to download the FAQ below prior to starting an application. If you have a question that is not answered in this document, please e-mail cannabis@ci.pomona.ca.us.

• CCPP Frequently Asked Questions (updated 4/2)

We will be hosting two workshops to walk through the application process and to answer any questions. We strongly encourage your attendance as it will be a good opportunity to dive into the application process before it launches.

Workshop #1
Tuesday, March 10, 2020, 6:00 p.m. 
City Council Chambers
505 S. Garey Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768

• Audio of Workshop #1 (starts at 2:30, ends at 56:30)
• Copy of Slide Presentation at Workshop #1 (any corrections are found in red)

Workshop #2
Thursday, March 19, 2020, 6:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
505 S. Garey Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768
Cancelled: As a matter of public health and safety due to the spread of COVID-19, the workshop has been cancelled. Please refer to the audio and slides from Workshop #1 above.

Zoom Webinar
Thursday, April 9, 2020, 3:00 p.m.
View Zoom Recording

You may access the CCPP Overlay District map, which identifies all locations where commercial cannabis related uses are permitted, by downloading the maps as a PDF or navigating a web-based interactive GIS application.

There are several actions that have been taken by the City Council of the City of Pomona to formalize the CCPP. We encourage you to review each of these documents to get a better understanding of the context and background of this program.

Ordinance No. 4254, also known as the Tax Ordinance, established the tax structure for commercial cannabis in the City of Pomona.

Ordinance No. 4257, also known as the Business Ordinance, established the merit-based process for awarding commercial cannabis permits, and established the regulations pertaining to commercial cannabis in the City of Pomona.

Ordinance No. 4273, also known as the CCPP Overlay District, established the zoning of parcels where commercial cannabis related land uses may locate in the City of Pomona. It is accompanied by a map, which can be accessed by PDF or through interactive GIS.

Resolution No. 2019-159, also known as the Process Integrity Standards, established rules to prevent lobbying and unfairness in the CCPP permit award process, including rules pertaining to contact of Mayor or City Council members, gifts, and campaign contributions.

Resolution No. 2019-2016 established the maximum number of CCPP permits issued at eight, which includes two (2) storefront retailer, two (2) microbusiness, and four (4) in any combination of manufacturing, testing, or indoor cultivation.