KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo city commissioners will take a couple of actions this evening to boost the job and generational wealth opportunities for economically disadvantaged city residents.
They plan to approve a contract with KRESA’s Career Connect organization to provide 80 to 120 summer jobs for young people between 14 and 21 to give them exposure to career exploration, employability skills training and paid internships.
The $416,000 summer program is something the city has funded for years.
Commissioners will also consider shifting income paid in fees by marijuana license holders from just training folks to work in the cannabis business, into community wealth building, business and home ownership.
City business specialist Eric Hahn says financial instability, higher taxes, market oversupply and product price declines in the cannabis business prompted a review of their social equity policy.
The original voter approved marijuana initiative requires that a percentage of the income from fees be set aside to help those communities that were disproportionately impacted by prior mariJuana enforcement.
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