Today, The Cannabis Advisory Board and The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced the launch of the second application round for the Community Reinvestment Program Grants, continuing New York’s effort to reinvest adult-use cannabis tax revenue into communities disproportionately impacted by past federal and state drug policies. This grant opportunity has a minimum of $5million to award and up to $15 million subject to the Fiscal Year 2026/2027 Enacted Budget. Interested applicants can apply for the Community Reinvestment Grants here.
What’s New in Round Two
To strengthen equity, accessibility, and community impact, OCM has updated the Request for Applications (RFA) with several enhancements:
- Communities Disproportionally Affected (CDA) Priority Service Area Map — A new data-driven tool to better align proposals with CDA’s by past cannabis prohibition.
- Two Tier Applicant Structure — Funding is now split into two tiers to ensure smaller and mid-sized organizations have a meaningful opportunity to secure grants:
- Tier 1: Small to medium-sized organizations
- Tier 2: Larger organizations
- Revamped and Streamlined Application — Simplified questions and clearer guidance reduce administrative burden while maintaining evaluative rigor.
These changes reflect agency, legislative and stakeholder feedback from the first grant cycle and aim to make the program more inclusive and responsive to local needs. Applicants must be prequalified in New York’s Statewide Financial System (SFS) at the date and time proposals are due. Applications for the Community Reinvestment Program are submitted through OCM’s eGrants portal.
“Community reinvestment is not symbolic, it is structural,” said John Kagia, Acting Executive Director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. “This next round of funding builds on the meaningful impact we began in October 2025, strengthening our connection to communities that have too often been left behind. By expanding access and clarifying expectations, we are empowering organizations to turn vision into measurable results.”
“The Cannabis Advisory Board remains committed to ensuring that cannabis tax revenue is delivered back to the communities and people most harmed by decades of prohibition,” said Joseph Belluck, Chair of the New York State Cannabis Advisory Board. “The updates to this year’s RFA, including dedicated funding tiers and a new service area map, reflect our commitment to make this program equitable, data-aligned, and community-centered.”
“Our focus is on increasing the impact, reach, and the quality of community reinvestment,” said Simone Washington, Chief Equity Officer of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. “The improvements in this application cycle are designed to reduce barriers, deepen geographic and demographic inclusion, and enable organizations of all sizes to play a role in rebuilding resilience for youth and families.”
For full details, eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and the updated RFA, visit the OCM Community Reinvestment Program webpage.
For ongoing updates, sign up for the OCM newsletter at bit.ly/ocmnewsletter.
The Community Reinvestment Program is funded through cannabis tax revenue as mandated by the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA). Grants are open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations proposing projects that serve youth ages 0–24 in underserved, disproportionately affected communities. Organizations do not need to be affiliated with the cannabis industry to apply. To date New York State has given out $5 million in Community Reinvestment Grant funding.
