Coachella breaks ground on city’s first cannabis cultivation facility
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday for what will be the first cannabis cultivation facility in the city of Coachella.
The 111,500-square-foot facility to be operated by Irvine-based Cultivation Technologies Inc. will be built at 84811 Ave. 48. Mayor Steven Hernandez was among those making remarks at the Thursday morning ceremony.
Watch: Exclusive first look inside newest, largest cannabis cultivation site in Palm Springs
“It’s an investment of about 25 to 30 million dollars overall,” Hernandez said, “it’s expected to bring in about 100 jobs for the city of Coachella.”
According to its website, Cultivation Technologies’ facility will provide the city with extra revenue and jobs for locals during both the construction phase and continued operation of the facility. In addition, Cultivation Technologies will be rolling out a “Coachella Premium” brand of products.
Justin Beck, Chairman of Cultivation Technologies, told News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2,”we expect it to bring as many as 200 jobs during the construction phase and then 100 permanent full time jobs during full operational phase.”
Beck also estimated the project to bring as much as $5 million in annual tax revenue to Coachella.
“That’s a substantial amount of taxes that could go back into our community for parks, police, streets for residents.” Mayor Hernandez said at the groundbreaking.
Read: Desert Hot Springs looks to be leader in cannabis cultivation
City leaders passed an ordinance last year allowing for the operation of cannabis-related businesses in certain areas of the city.
“We’re building a state of the art among the highest technology facilities in the country,” Beck said,”indoor cultivation as well as product manufacturing, testing distribution as well as wholesale transportation.”
Cities within the region have sought to capitalize on the potentially booming cannabis market, with Desert Hot Springs and Santa Barbara-based Canndescent opening the Coachella Valley’s first marijuana cultivation facility last September.
“We’re starting to see that dream come in to reality here in the city of Coachella.” Mayor Hernandez said.
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