NBA Hall of Famer Chris Webber has announced a step toward achieving not only his dreams but those of his community as well, reports Afro Tech.
In an effort to ensure minorities will not be left out of the cannabis industry, the entrepreneur has announced the launch of the Players Only Holdings — co-founded with entrepreneur Lavetta Willis — which will bring a $50 million cannabis operation and training facility to Detroit, MI.
“To be able to bring this to Detroit is the most special thing because I waited,” said Webber in a press statement to CBS Sports. “I waited until I really learned the industry; we’ve been in here a while. I waited to try and see what the right landscape was, and all of that studying and preparation and patience really makes me feel like I just can’t wait to hit this here, and the people are going to make it a home run.”
This news follows just five months after Webber’s nonprofit WebberWild partnered with Cookies U to create cannabis-led initiatives to provide educational resources and empower people of color in the cannabis industry. Students are recruited for a three-month curriculum to share resources on how future cannabis leaders can succeed in the industry.
“I’m working with wWhite men, veterans, Black and Brown people, women. So, hopefully what I’m going to show is through friendships, through business partnerships here in Detroit — long ones, over 30 years, guys that I call my best friends today — that we can show the diversity of Detroit and we can show that it takes diversity to help [provide] access for those that have a lack of access,” Webber said.
The 180,000-square-foot facility will create job opportunities for the city of Detroit over the next three years. The compound is set to begin construction this Fall and is expected to be finalized in March 2022.
