SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Businesses in underprivileged areas are on the receiving end of the latest round of cannabis grants from the city of Springfield. Michelle Ownbey, executive editor of the Springfield Business Journal, explains for the WTAX Morning Newswatch.

“The businesses have to be within targeted zones,” said Ownbey. “When they first launched the cannabis grant program, it was pretty much just the east side, but, more recently, they’ve expanded the boundaries; so, for example, that’s why Elderberry & Plumb Bookstore was able to be included, but it still has to be in certain census tracts that were disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, that sort of thing, so it can’t be for somebody opening up on the far west side of town, for example.”

That bookstore is at Seventh and Clay Streets. Another recipient is Seven’s Grocery, which is to open next month in the former Save-a-Lot (pictured) on Clear Lake Avenue. In all, eight business are getting $100,000 each.