VERDE (GREEN) FUND MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Between
Holyoke, MA Neighborhood Council, Chair Carmen Ocasio
(South Holyoke Neighborhood Association)
And
__________________________________ (Cannabis Corporation)
_____________________________________________________, Owner
____________________________________________ (Address of Business)
(New Holyoke Business)

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sets for the terms and understanding between the South Holyoke
Neighborhood Association and the above listed Cannabis Corporation to participate and contribute annually to the
Verde “Green Fund” of Holyoke, created by the Holyoke Neighborhood Association.

Background
The Cannabis Industry is booming in Holyoke and opening at a rapid rate, within the next 2-4
years it is estimated that at least twenty (20) Cannabis companies are looking to locate in the
City of Holyoke to cultivate, dispense and test cannabis either medically or recreationally.
Those who are impacted the most are often the most vulnerable and most disenfranchised. The
City of Holyoke is negotiating boiler plate host community agreements with these companies
that often leave out direct community/neighborhood support in terms of an annual contributions
directly to the community/neighborhood.

The Holyoke Neighborhood Council is seeking to balance these scales and have created the
“Verde” (Green) fund.

Purpose
The Verde Fund will help improve the neighborhoods’ and empower the community that is the
most impacted by the entrance of the Cannabis Industry. This fund will be collected annual
with the above Cannabis Company and others providing an annual donation between July 1st –
July 15th of every calendar year. (If company is new to the fund they will make an immediate
contribution to the fund in the amount agreed to below.)

The Verde fund shall support and accept annual applications in the following five (5) areas:
1. Arts/Theater/Culture and Placemaking Activities and events in and around the Main Street.

2. Youth Development & Enrichment Programs

3. Environmental and Food Justice Events/Programs

4. Workforce Development that helps marginalized communities seek gainful, increased employment.

5. Community Celebration Events and Activities in and around (The Flats, Downtown, South Holyoke,
Springdale/Ingleside and Churchill.)
 VERDE (GREEN) FUND MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Employment
__________ is committed to hiring at least ______% of its workforce from the City of Holyoke. Pursuant
to the Host Community Agreement signed with the City of Holyoke, which states “Upon commencing
operations and within thirty (30) days of the start of the calendar year for each year this agreement
remains in effect, the operator will provide the City with an annual report for each previous year
containing the following information: (1) the Operator’s employment level; (2) the number of Holyoke
residents employed, and (3) a description of measures taken to fulfill this workforce hiring commitment”,
_____________ reaffirms its commitments to this agreement. In addition, ____________ is committed to
having our workforce be a direct representation of Holyoke’s diverse community.

Verde Fund Selection Committee Composition

The Verde Fund Selection Committee shall consist of the following groups / organizations /
individuals*;

- South Holyoke Neighborhood Association (2 Seats)

- Area Servicing Organizations (2 Seats)
- Flats Community Representative (2 Seats)
- Business Representative (1 Seat)
- Cannabis Industries in Verde Fund (2 Seats, rotating companies in fund annually).

The 9-member committee will receive applications beginning September 1st of each year and
announce all micro grant winners by November 1st of each year. Micro grants will be $500 -
$2,000 per application.

Funding
__________________ (Cannabis Company) agrees to contribute annually $________ to the
Verde fund of Holyoke. Payments are due between the 1st – 15th of July.

Duration
This MOU may be modified by mutual consent of authorized officials from the South Holyoke
Neighborhood Association and _________________ (Cannabis Company). This MOU shall become
effective upon signature by the authorized officials from the South Holyoke Neighborhood Association
and __________________ (Cannabis Company), and will remain in effect and run concurrently with
licensing through the Cannabis Control Commission and a special permit required by the City of
Holyoke.

Contact Information
Carmen Oscasio,
South Holyoke Neighborhood Association
President
Address: 568 South Summer Street, Holyoke, MA 01040
Telephone: 413-657-1433
E-mail: cocasio50@yahoo.com

_____________________ (Name of Owner or Legal Representative)

_____________________ (Cannabis Company Name)
Address: ____________________________________
Telephone: __________________________________
E-mail: _____________________________________
 VERDE (GREEN) FUND MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

This MOU shall become effective upon signature by the authorized officials from the South
Holyoke Neighborhood Association and Solurge (Cannabis Corporation) and will remain in
effect until modified or until said company is no longer legally in existence in the City of
Holyoke.

Date:
________________________________________
Carmen Ocasio
Chair, Holyoke Neighborhood Council

________________________________________ Date:

Andrew Arens, Owner (Solurge)

NOTARY PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT;

For a partnership:
State of Massachusetts
County Of Hampden __________
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me
this ____________ (date) by Holyoke Neighborhood
Council (Carmen Ocasio) , and
________________________________________
(Marijuana Company) behalf of El Verde (Green) Fund, a
community granting fund. Both representatives are
personally known to me or has produced ______________
as identification.
____________________________________
(Signature of person taking acknowledgment