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Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has announced the launch of Cook County CannaBiz Pathways, a free program designed to support entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry. The initiative aims to provide business owners with access to cohort-based learning, webinars, and personalized advising.
The program is funded by the Cook County Equity Fund and was developed in response to feedback from applicants for the 2024 Cook County Cannabis Development Grant. That grant provided financial assistance to local Social Equity License holders operating in the cannabis sector.
“The CannaBiz Pathways program will provide customized guidance for cannabis entrepreneurs, including in-depth assistance regarding compliance, taxes, promotion and more,” said President Preckwinkle. “As they navigate the challenges of opening and getting established in an emerging sector, Cook County is committed to ensuring they benefit from the economic opportunities and tailored advising that will position them for success.”
The Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) will administer CannaBiz Pathways. The program features two six-week cohorts that focus on areas such as market research, customer segmentation, sales strategies, marketing strategies, financial knowledge, industry regulations and compliance, operations management and more. Participation is open to all Cook County cannabis-license holders.
“In a complex industry like cannabis, education serves as the foundation for compliance, credibility and long-term success,” said WBDC President and CEO Erica Kuhlmann. “It also helps entrepreneurs build informed communities that can thrive together in a growing industry.”
Participants will have access to virtual classes and self-paced online training modules such as Responsible Vendor Training (RVT). The first cohort runs weekly from October 7 through November 18, 2025; registration closes October 1 with space limited to 25 participants. A second cohort is planned for early 2026.
In addition to cohort learning, WBDC will host at least one monthly webinar or virtual workshop led by subject matter experts on topics like banking practices specific to cannabis businesses, human resources issues unique to this field, accounting methods suited for regulated industries, and tax law updates. Webinars are open broadly while workshops are reserved for local license holders.
The first webinar takes place September 25 with a focus on impact alignment with regulatory compliance.
CannaBiz Pathways also includes one-on-one business advising sessions available exclusively for Cook County license holders.
Commissioner Bill Lowry (3rd District), who supported the Cannabis Development Grant initiative leading up to this new program’s launch stated: "This groundbreaking initiative embodies our dedication to equity, entrepreneurship, and long-term economic vitality in the rapidly expanding cannabis industry," said Commissioner Lowry. "Through comprehensive advising, peer cohort learning and expert-led workshops, we are equipping entrepreneurs with the financial literacy, compliance strategies and business acumen necessary to succeed in this highly regulated field. These resources are offered at no cost to participants, ensuring that Cook County-based cannabis businesses are not left behind but are instead positioned to compete, innovate and thrive. This program is not simply a training series; it is a transformative pathway that strengthens our local economy, creates sustainable opportunities and reaffirms our commitment to fairness and innovation across Cook County.”
Last year saw $3.6 million distributed among 40 Social Equity License recipients through county grants aimed at supporting start-up costs associated with opening or running a cannabis business locally. In addition this year’s cycle will award grants again—up to ten eligible applicants who were not selected previously will be notified about their awards soon.
More information about CannaBiz Pathways—including how interested parties can register—is available at wbdc.org/en/cook-county-cannabiz-pathways/.
The Women’s Business Development Center was founded in 1986 as a nonprofit focused on accelerating business development—particularly among women—and strengthening participation across all sectors of the economy.
