By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington recently received a gift from a medical cannabis dispensary group which will help create summer job opportunities for at-risk youth.

The $20,000 grant comes from Curative Health, which is licensed by the state to operate a medical cannabis dispensary in Chicago and has also applied for a license to operate in Aurora. Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner said the logistics of the youth program are still being worked out.

“Before kids get into trouble, before they get into a system or a bad cycle, we want to teach them the value of work. We want to make sure that they can be productive members of society,” said Renner. “That’s why a summer job program for at-risk youth, I think, is critical. It teaches them the value of a paycheck and it shows them that they have to show up to work every day.”

Renner explained for now this is a one-time grant.

“It doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t be possible to try to get this money again next year. I’ve been working with Curative Health to try to secure this type of money for about eight or nine months and so I’m glad that it’s finally come to pass,” he said

Vice Chairman of Curative Health and Chief Executive Officer of its national parent company, Columbia Care, Nicholas Vita said the idea for the gift occurred to him during a meeting with Renner earlier this year when the Renner expressed a desire to expand summer employment opportunities for young people in Bloomington.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].