Jamestown Municipal Building P-J file photo

City officials’ national marketing campaign to attract potential cannabis-related businesses has apparently sparked plenty of interest.

Following a news release in June outlining the city’s efforts to attract cannabis-based businesses and being featured in three national publications and multiple podcasts, Jamestown officials announced they received more than 250 inquiries about their aggressive approach to cultivating a business ecosystem that will support the establishment of new marijuana-related industry.

City officials announced their cannabis marketing has resulted in dozens of interviews with companies interested in seeking one of New York state’s coveted cannabis industry licenses.

According to city officials, those who have inquired about having a cannabis-based business in the city are directed to the Department of Development whose staff reviews and thoroughly screens potential businesses seeking the mandatory municipal support necessary to be eligible to apply for one of the adult-use licenses for cultivation, nursery operation, processing, distribution, cooperative, microbusiness, retail dispensary, on-site consumption or a combination license for one of two separate categories to providers of multiple services.

Once the applications for state licenses becomes available, those that have made it through the vetting process remain potential candidates for municipal support, which includes several local companies looking to diversify and grow their existing businesses, which will not only help retain jobs, but create new ones while supporting a new hyper-local economic sector.

In June, city officials started marketing its competitive advantage like the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities and vacant manufacturing facilities to commercial cannabis growers.

At the time, Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said the city provides affordable power and water, multiple potential locations and a welcoming community with a capable workforce for commercial cannabis grow operations. He said there are available vacant manufacturing and industrial facilities along Allen, Crescent and Second streets in the city. He added that city officials have toured at least four facilities and there are at least 10 available locations for future marijuana growing operations.

“We’ve been actively touring potential locations in anticipation for folks in growing operations, so we have a working understanding of what is available in the community,” Sundquist said. “We see this new market as an opportunity to make some significant changes and we’re excited about it. We’re pushing it out on a statewide level. We want folks to look at the opportunities here in the city of Jamestown. We’re trying to find new economic development and we have to figure out how to do that, and this is one way we are doing it.”

Sundquist said municipalities cannot prohibit growing operations. However, he said the city can regulate the time, place and matter of any business in the city through its zoning code. He added typically growing operators in other cities don’t target residential areas.

City officials stated only businesses that meet all of the established state and city of Jamestown’s strict quality standards will be considered potential candidates to receive a municipal letter of support.

City officials are slated to vote on a local law to possibly opt out of allowing cannabis dispensaries and consumption sites in Jamestown. A public hearing, which has not been scheduled yet, on the local law will take place next month prior to the council’s monthly voting session at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20.