Recreational Marijuana

March 9, 2021

City of Springfield to Hold Public Presentations by Proposers for Phase Two of Adult Use Marijuana Applications

Springfield, MA – The City of Springfield will hold a virtual public presentation by proposers for Phase II of Adult Use Marijuana applications on Monday, March 15, 2021, and Thursday, March 18, 2021, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm (see attached for the public presentation schedule).  

The purpose of this virtual meeting is for those entities interested in applying for the City of Springfield’s Phase II of Adult Use Marijuana application to present their respective plans and proposals.  Each potential proposer will be limited to 15-minute presentations. 

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, the public presentation by proposers will be done virtually via Zoom thanks to Focus Springfield.  Those interested in watching can do so by registering at the link below.  In addition, the meeting will be livestreamed on the City of Springfield’s Office of Communications Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/CityofSpringfieldMA

Below are the steps on how to watch the public presentation by proposers:  

  • Once the registration is completed, a link will be automatically sent to the email address entered to attend the ‘public presentation by proposers.
  • Once logged on, participants will be on as an ‘attendee’, where they can watch the purposed presentations.  

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated, “I want to thank all of the entities who have signed up for the public presentation for the City’s Phase II Marijuana application.  I also want to thank our City team and Attorney Julie Steiner for their commitment on holding a fair and transparent evaluation process for applications.  This second round of applications will continue my administrations goal of trying to maximizing the city’s revenue potential and just as important create new jobs while balancing the concerns of our residents, neighborhoods and public safety.”

Submissions of RFQ/P are due by 2:00 pm on March 22, 2021.  The City will conduct an internal review and announce the names of proposer(s) qualifying for the right to negotiate a Host Community Agreement with the City in mid-May 2021.

The RFQ/P can be downloaded from the City’s website.  Additionally, notification of any adjustment to the timetable will be posted on the City’s Website at www.springfield-ma.gov/cos/?id=2976 and on COMMBUYS.

Monday MARCH 15, 2021 

6PM-8:15PM

ZOOM  LINK  TO  BE  PROVIDED 

Springfield, MA 

 

Company Name

Presentation  Time

Proposed Location

1

Hoop City Ventures

6pm-6:15pm

357 Cottage Street

 

 

 

 

2

Page Cultivate LLC

6:15pm-6:30pm

299 Page Boulevard (Lot 2)

 

 

 

 

3

Lemonnade Springfield

6:30pm-6:45pm

 

 

 

 

 

4

The House of Cannabis LLC

6:45pm-7:pm

 

 

 

 

 

5

KUR Retailers

7pm-7:15pm

 

 

 

 

 

6

Seashore Enterprise LLC

7:15pm-7:30pm

 

 

 

 

 

7

Boston Bud Factory

7:30pm-7:45pm

 

 

 

 

 

8

Primus LLC

7:45pm-8pm

982 Main Street

 

 

 

 

9

American Transport of Springfield

8:00pm-8:15pm

3rd Party Transporter, 200 Taylor Street

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday MARCH 18, 2021

6PM-8:15PM

ZOOM  LINK  TO  BE  PROVIDED

Springfield, MA 

 

Company Name

Presentation Time

Proposed Location

10

Green Gold Group

6pm-6:15pm

 

 

 

 

 

11

Green Leaf Dispensary LLC

6:15pm-6:30pm

1168 Boston Road

 

 

 

 

12

Verdant Reparative Inc.

6:30pm-6:45pm

 

 

 

 

 

13

Apical Inc.

6:45pm-7:pm

 

 

 

 

 

14

Origins Investment Inc.

7pm-7:15pm

 

 

 

 

 

15

Diem Springfield LLC

7:15pm-7:30pm

 

 

 

 

 

16

732 Cottage Street LLC

7:30pm-7:45pm

 

 

 

 

 

17

Relax MD

7:45pm-8pm

 

 

 

 

 

18

Tree ‘N Brick LLC

8:00pm-8:15pm

1860 Main Street

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: Zoom Links will be provided prior to the meeting. Public Presentations will be hosted by Focus Springfield. Presenters will be given “panelist” permissions to be able give presentations, including screen share, etc. The Public will be able to spectate. Public presentations will also be live streamed on the City’s Office of Communications Facebook page and recorded by Focus Springfield as part of their PEG access program.

Friday, February 12, 2021

Mayor Sarno Extends Time to Submit Questions to City Concerning Phase Two of Adult Use Marijuana Applications

Springfield, MA – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno announced that the City of Springfield will extend the deadline to submit written questions from interested proposers concerning the Request for Qualifications/Proposals (RFQ/P) for one week from February 15, 2021 to February 22, 2021. In addition, the date the City will issue responses to all questions is being extended from February 22, 2021 to March 1, 2021 (also one week).

The deadline for requesting a public presentation (February 26, 2021) has not been changed.

Mayor Sarno stated, “We hope to generate interest from applicants and we are sensitive to the changing environment caused by the COVID–19 Coronavirus pandemic since the last round.  We are building on the experience gained in the first round of applications and approvals, and I am sure we can build on what we have learned to provide an economic impact for the City and new opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.”

Responses to the RFQ/P are due by 2:00 pm on March 22, 2021.  The City will conduct an internal review and announce the names of proposer(s) qualifying for the right to negotiate a Host Community Agreement with the City on April 12, 2021.

The RFQ/P can be downloaded from the City’s website.  Additionally, notification of any adjustment to the timetable will be posted on the City’s Website at www.springfield-ma.gov/cos/index.php?id=2976 and on COMMBUYS.

 

The timetable for the process is set forth in the table below.  Unless otherwise specified, the time of day for the following events shall be between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.  All other times specified in this RFQ/P are Eastern Standard Time.

Action

Date

  1. RFQ/P issued

January 26, 2021

  1. Written questions from interested proposers concerning RFQ/P

February 22, 2021

  1. Written requests for public presentations

February 26, 2021

  1. Written responses from City to questions posted on COMMBUYS and City website

March 1, 2021

  1. Public presentations by proposers

March 15, 2021

March 18, 2021

  1. RFQ/P responses due by 2:00 p.m.                              

March 22, 2021

  1. City announces name of proposer(s) qualifying for right to negotiate agreement

mid-May 2021

 

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Mayor Sarno Announces Phase Two of Adult Use Marijuana Establishment Applications

Springfield, MA – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno announces that, through a Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposals (“RFQ/P”) issued today, the City of Springfield, Massachusetts (“City”), seeks to obtain information and qualify Marijuana Establishment Applicants for the purpose of negotiating and executing a Host Community Agreement (“HCA”) for the development, construction and operation of a Marijuana Establishment within the City in accordance with applicable laws and regulations (G.L. c. 94G, §3; 935 CMR 500.100 as amended).  This RFQ/P is intended to provide a public selection process, but is not issued pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws, c. 30B. 

Mayor Sarno states he has tasked City Solicitor Attorney Edward Pikula to work with the outside-specialized independent Consultant, Attorney Julie E. Steiner Consulting LLC, and the City’s internal committee, to provide a comprehensive, transparent, and revised application and evaluation process.  The process builds upon on the experience gained in the first round of applications and approvals, and the changes adapted by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, in order to maximize revenue streams to our city, increase social equity opportunities, and protect public health and safety aspects for our neighborhoods. 

The first round of applications resulted in the City issuing four (4) Host Community Agreements.  To date, one has opened, two have been approved by the state Cannabis Control Commission and are in the construction process and are expected to open in the coming months.  The fourth is pending with the Cannabis Control Commission, and is in the process of amending their Host Community Agreement and will be going before the City Council to seek a change of control and ownership. 

For this Second Round of RFQ/P, the City will select up to four (4) qualified Marijuana Retailer enterprises.  As part of its ongoing commitment to ensuring a robust, fair and equitable cannabis industry, and in recognition of the fact that parts of the City have been designated by the Cannabis Control Commission (“Commission”) as an “Area of Disproportionate Impact” for the purposes of identifying areas in the Commonwealth that have historically high rates of arrest, conviction, and incarceration related to marijuana crimes between 1971 and 2016.  In this RFQ/P, two (2) of the four (4) Marijuana Retailers selected will be reserved for Commission-certified Social Equity, and/or Economic Empowerment Priority Applicants (“Social Equity Reserved HCA”).  In the event there is no suitable applicant, then that Social Equity Reserved HCA slot(s) will carry over to subsequent RFQ/P phases.

The City will also select at least one (1) qualified Marijuana Cultivator enterprise, and additional qualified Marijuana Establishment enterprises: Craft Marijuana Cooperative, Independent Testing or Standards Testing Laboratory, Marijuana Courier, Marijuana Delivery Operator, Marijuana Product Manufacturer, Marijuana Research Facility, Marijuana Transporter or Marijuana Microbusiness.  Under the City’s Zoning Ordinance, Marijuana Social Consumption Establishments are prohibited.

Per the Commission, the Marijuana Courier and Marijuana Delivery Operator license types will only be offered to Commission-certified Social Equity or Economic Empowerment Priority Applicants for a minimum of three years.  Therefore, HCAs for Marijuana Couriers or a Marijuana Delivery Operators will be available solely to Commission-certified Social Equity or Economic Empowerment Priority Applicants during this RFQ/P.

Proposers who are not selected in this RFQ/P are encouraged to submit a response to the City during potential additional phases.

The purpose of this RFQ/P is to qualify Marijuana Establishment applicants desirous of entering into negotiations with the City of Springfield for a Host Community Agreement.  Proposals submitted will be evaluated to determine which proposer(s) may be selected to enter into negotiations.  This is not a binding RFQ/P, but an invitation for interested parties to submit proposals.  Participation in the RFQ/P is required for Marijuana Establishment applicants that want to locate within the City.  Each proposal submitted in response to the RFQ/P will be evaluated by the City’s Internal Review Group as determined by the Mayor.

The information provided will also be used in the City’s planning process to develop and revise local land use, health and public safety regulations as necessary and in accordance with current state regulations.

 

The City may adjust this schedule, as it deems necessary.  Notification of any adjustment to the timetable will be posted on the City’s Website at www.springfield-ma.gov/cos/?id=2976  and on COMMBUYS.  Applicants are responsible for checking this site for any timetable changes per Section 4(B) of this RFQ/P.

Mayor Sarno stated, “I want to thank Attorney Julie Steiner for working with our city’s Law Department and internal committee.  This second round of marijuana RFQ/P’s will build upon my administration’s commitment to holding a fair and transparent evaluation process for applications.  This new round of applications will continue my administrations goal of trying to maximizing the city’s revenue potential and just as important create new jobs while balancing the concerns of our residents, neighborhoods and public safety.”

Attorney Julie Steiner states, “I am honored to continue working with the City of Springfield as it implements the voters' mandate to legalize adult and medicinal marijuana.  Springfield's approach serves as a model for municipalities.  It involves thoughtful expansion into the burgeoning cannabis industry by balancing public safety, equity and economic business opportunity, and all decisions are made after considering the input of a wide variety of government experts.”

“We have conducted a successful first round and I am confident that we will be able to put forth another successful second round based upon the changes to the laws, regulations and public health and safety concerns due to the pandemic,” Mayor Sarno added.  “This new round will build upon what we have learned to provide and create an economic impact for the City and new opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.”

The City’s internal committee consist of representatives from the Health Department, Police Department, Fire Department, Planning Department, Law Department, Building Department, Department of Public Works, Finance Department, Procurement Department as well as a member of the City Council appointed by the City Council President.

 

View the Phase Two RFP 21-107 

 

 

Friday, July 5, 2019

Mayor Sarno Announces First Round Recreational Marijuana Selections

Springfield, MA – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated, "First of all, many thanks to our whole Internal Review Committee, especially to Assistant City Solicitor and City Council Attorney Tasheena Davis, independent expert consultant Atty. Julie Steiner, Chief of Staff Tom Ashe and City Councilor Tracye Whitfield for their many hours of complete and thorough work. Based on the Review Committee’s recommendation, which considered criteria regarding traffic congestion, public safety, financial wherewithal, non-adverse effects to our neighborhoods/business district areas, proper land use issues, geographical issues and our sensitivity to diversity aspects, I have selected the following four entities to move forward in this first round:

INSA – 122 West Columbus Avenue

Holistic Industries – 1300 Boston Road

6 Bricks LLC – 250 Albany Street

311 Page Boulevard LLC – 311 Page Boulevard

"I will now start negotiations with each of these entities on a Host Community Agreement to then be sent to our City Council for their review and approval. If and when approved, it will then go to the State Cannabis Commission for even more vetting, especially on finances for their approval or disapproval."


City of Springfield Request For Qualifications/Proposals Process for Marijuana Establishments

The City of Springfield utilized a Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposals to obtain information and qualify Marijuana Establishment Applicants for the purpose of negotiating and executing a Host Community Agreement for the development, construction and operation of a Marijuana Establishment within the City in accordance with applicable laws and regulations (G.L. c. 94G, §3; 935 CMR 500.101). The RFQ/RFP was intended to provide a public selection process, but is not issued pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws, c. 30B.

View the Phase One Selection Criteria: RFQ/P 19-116

Proposers are prohibited from communicating directly with any employee of the City regarding this RFQ/P and no other individual or City representative is authorized to provide any information or respond to any question or inquiry concerning this RFQ/P.

 

 

 

 

 

Page last updated:  Tuesday, September 14, 2021 03:48 pm