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<br />4. Community Benefits <br />As mentioned in the foreword to this submission, the Blüm Oakland dispensary has become a linchpin to the <br />revitalization of a difficult crime driven corner in downtown Oakland. Further, Blüm Oakland has actively <br />contributed to the aesthetics and community culture, and has successfully cultivated a welcoming atmosphere <br />through its patient centric approach. Simply stated, Blüm Oakland is an exemplary citizen in downtown Oakland. <br />Blüm SL will provide the City of San Leandro and its residents with benefits through a comprehensive set of <br />strategic investments in the community and a collaborative approach with its City stakeholders. Blüm SL sees its <br />community benefit responsibilities as a powerful mechanism for continuing its efforts in improving the political and <br />economic realities of the San Francisco Bay Area, especially in the City of San Leandro. Through grants and <br />technical assistance, Blüm SL will support local government, non-profit organizations, community groups, and <br />medical cannabis patient communities in their work. <br /> <br />Fair Share Tax Contribution <br />Blüm SL understands that every resident of the City of San Leandro, even corporate citizens, bears a responsibility <br />to fund essential City services, infrastructure, programs, and emergency services. For most industries the ability to <br />pay their fair share is expected. Blüm SL does not shy away from this responsibility regardless of whether <br />a relevant City tax has or has not been adopted. A relevant local tax has not been adopted in the City of San <br />Leandro. Nonetheless Blüm SL will self-impose a five percent (5.0%) gross receipts fee that it will provide to the <br />City’s general fund. If and when the City of San Leandro adopts a relevant local medical cannabis tax, Blüm SL <br />will comply with the adopted tax rate. However until such tax is imposed, Blüm SL commits to contributing to the <br />City’s general fund at the rate of 5%. <br /> <br />Community Benefits <br />Just as Blüm SL understands that corporate citizens bear a responsibility to contributing their fair share to the <br />community, we also believe that corporate responsibility should include community giving and benefits. Towards <br />that end, Blüm SL will have a community benefits grant program that will focus on providing grants to programs <br />and institutions in which the City of San Leandro has already invested. In this manner Blüm SL can reinforce City <br />programs that are focused on enhancing economic and neighborhood development, that generate revenue for <br />public services, and improve the overall quality of life for its citizens. <br /> <br />Blüm SL will strive towards building new relationships and alliances, mobilizing labor and community-based <br />organizations behind a broad-based economic development strategy. The strategy will prioritize creation of high- <br />quality jobs and new career paths for low-income workers, promoting community wellness, supporting sustainable <br />local food systems, reducing nutrition-related illnesses in San Leandro’s low-income neighborhoods, and putting <br />strong emphasis on environmental and economic sustainability. <br /> <br />Blüm SL looks forward to leveraging its not-for-profit status by helping fund local grassroots organizations whose <br />work most closely aligns with our vision for the community. Blüm SL has identified seven program areas it plans <br />to fund via grants in its first five years of operations. Each individual award will not exceed $25,000 so that Blüm <br />SL may impact as many program areas as possible. Blüm SL anticipates that grant amounts will increase in the <br />second and subsequent years as we build long-term, sustainable partnerships with grantees. Blüm SL believes <br />that the City of San Leandro will experience an appreciable reduction in crime and also a reduction in <br />enforcement costs directly attributable to these philanthropic programs. Our commitment to San Leandro is so <br />strong that we will be creating two new pilot programs, as described below designed to make a real impact in the <br />community. Our areas of interest include: <br /> <br />Re-Entry Jobs & Job Training <br />Blüm SL is proud to support organizations and programs such as Dig Deep Farms, which provides <br />comprehensive job and career training and job opportunities for local residents. Blüm SL is particularly interested <br />in funding efforts to re-integrate the unemployed, as well as reformed ex-offenders back into the workforce. When <br />appropriate, and if no disqualifying offenses for employment exist, Blüm SL looks forward to piloting a program <br />that identifies workforce candidates for employment with Blüm SL. We believe that if more local businesses <br />offered similar opportunities that cumulatively there would be a significant and measurable reduction in recidivism <br />rates throughout the Bay Area.