Ascend and NuProject Launch ROOTS Program to Prepare Cannabis Businesses for Corporate Supply Chains

Executive Summary

• Ascend Wellness Holdings and NuProject announced the launch of the ROOTS program to support small cannabis businesses in Massachusetts and New Jersey.
• The six‑month cohort, open for applications through May 11, will provide coaching, technical assistance, and training on operational and financial readiness.
• The initiative builds on Ascend’s social‑equity efforts, including expungement clinics, charitable donations, and support for minority‑owned businesses.

Key Details

• Program name: ROOTS – Readying Opportunities for Operational & Trade Sustainability.
• Target participants: Licensed cannabis operators and ancillary companies in MA and NJ.
• Application window: Open now until Monday, May 11, 2026.
• Cohort start: May 2026; duration six months.
• Services offered: Mentorship, self‑paced curriculum, finance/accounting assistance, cash‑flow improvement, and a final pitch to potential buyers/partners in Ascend’s supply chain.
• Quote – Danielle Drummond (Ascend VP Social Equity): Emphasized the program’s role in strengthening equity and relationships between large and small businesses.
• Quote – Jeannette Ward (CEO, NuProject): Highlighted how NuProject helps founders secure large procurement contracts.
• Ascend’s prior social‑equity contributions: >60 expungement clinics, ~US$2 M donated to grassroots groups, support for >150 equity/MBE businesses.
• NuProject background: Non‑profit founded 2018; $4.9 M deployed via mission‑based lending; >5,000 coaching hours delivered.
• Application and FAQ available at www.nuproject.org/roots.