Cannabis company Embarc was awarded the third and final retail commercial cannabis permit from Hanford on Tuesday.
The city said in a statement that Embarc plans to transform part of E. 7th St. in downtown Hanford by creating a co-working and community space.
Embarc will redevelop an existing 3,600 square-foot building at 211 E. 7th St. for its commercial dispensary.
Once complete, Embarc will redevelop a 20,000 square-foot building into a public market and coworking space.
Both buildings were purchased from farmer Michael Miya, who will be part of Embarc’s ownership group and will serve as the chair of the Embarc Hanford Community Advisory Board.
“We are thrilled and honored to have partnered with multi-generational resident and community leader Michael Miya in bringing Embarc to Hanford,” said Embarc CEO Lauren Carpenter in a statement.
“This project envisions significant reimagination of the 200 block of E. 7th St. and will bring additional high-paying jobs and tax revenues to the Hanford community. We are grateful to the city for this opportunity and look forward to hitting the ground running.”
Hanford chose Embarc over four other businesses that applied for permits earlier in the year.
Embarc received the highest cumulative score in the city’s scoring process, which was based on criteria such as location, general business operations, neighborhood compatibility, air quality, labor and employment and safety and security.
“Embarc Hanford brings a whole new dynamic to the city’s cannabis program,” Hanford City Manager Mario Cifuentez said in a statement. “Mr. Miya’s passion and vision for Hanford is unrivaled, and we look forward to welcoming Embarc to the east side of downtown in 2023.”
The city said Embarc will hold panels, workshops and nonprofit partnership events to engage with the community and help educate Hanford residents about topics that help reduce the stigma of cannabis consumption.
“Embarc Hanford will serve as the gold standard for compliant, safe retail cannabis while delivering tangible community benefits outside the four walls of our dispensary,” Miya said in a statement. “I look forward to working hand and hand with our Community Advisory Board of trusted, local leaders to ensure the financial benefits of retail cannabis are invested in the thoughtful revitalization of E. 7th St.”
