Hartford Business Journal

24 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | APRIL 3, 2023 FOCUS: DEI Paul O. Robertson is the deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of the Department of Economic and Community Development and chair of the cannabis industry's Social Equity Council. HBJ PHOTO | SKYLER FRAZER Former advertising media exec Robertson aims to help launch social equity cannabis startups P aul O. Robertson has a front-row seat to the rollout of Connecticut's recreational marijuana market. He's also playing a hands-on role in the industry's development. Robertson joined the state Depart- ment of Economic and Community Development (DECD) last year as deputy commissioner and chief operating officer, following a career in media advertising and tourism roles. His job duties were broadened in December when Gov. Ned Lamont named him chair of the state's Social Equity Council, an organization tasked with trying to ensure that underrepresented groups impacted by the nation's war on drugs get a piece of the multimillion-dollar adult-use cannabis market. It's a tough job, given some advo- cates have complained that the state's recreational marijuana market isn't doing enough to support entre- preneurs from traditionally disad- vantaged communities, and instead favors large multistate operators or those with deep-pocketed backers. It's an issue that Robertson can't fully control, since any changes to the recreational cannabis industry must be made by the legislature. Robertson said his focus is on helping cannabis entrepreneurs who have received a provisional license get their businesses off the ground over the next several months. There are several support systems in place, he said, including a newly- launched marijuana business accel- erator program for the more than 30 existing social equity provisional license holders. The council is also finalizing a new low-interest loan program that will allow social equity entrepre- neurs to access relatively cheap startup capital. "We have to support folks who want to get into this business," Robertson said. "This is an opportunity for this community of the underserved, those impacted by the war on drugs, to have a way to ultimately build some generational wealth." History in media Robertson, 63, was involved in media, particularly radio and tele- vision, for much of his career. After graduating from the University of Hartford, he went on to help create a radio station at Weaver High School in Hartford, one of the only high school radio stations in the country at the time. "I always think of it as like my baby because I was there 11 years," Robertson said. The Connecticut native eventually moved on to run a Hartford-based Spanish radio station before working for the company that would become CBS Radio. That's where he eventu- ally found his niche in advertising and sales, he said. "I sold for them for six years, and that laid the foundation for under- standing business and small busi- ness," Robertson said. "I was going out and soliciting businesses to help grow their business, and that's kind of the genesis of my journey to here." He also spent time at NBC Connecticut, Radio Disney Connecticut and Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network, before being named chairman of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau in 2015. "That job was a lot of helping bring in international business, overseeing the tourism universe and aligning my skills with sales and sponsorships and raising money," Robertson said. As DECD's deputy commissioner, Robertson is in charge of overseeing business development, small busi- ness support (including a new $75 million small business loan fund), as well as the tourism, arts and branding offices. Community investments Social Equity Council Execu- tive Director Ginne-Rae Clay said Robertson took interest in the state's cannabis industry and social equity efforts as soon as he joined the DECD. "I think he has a really good understanding of (the state's new cannabis industry), and in his position as deputy commissioner and now council chair, he's very much poised to assist us in the next phase of our work," Clay said. A key focus area for the Social Equity Council this year includes developing a community investment plan that will support areas histori- cally impacted by disproportionately high rates of drug-related convictions. What that entails remains unclear, but the state's adult-use law created a social equity and innovation account that earmarks cannabis sales tax revenues for community investments in areas like health clinics, job training programs, neigh- borhood revitalization and more. Robertson said the Social Equity Council will host statewide community events this year to help guide how and where the funding is directed. Clay said since DECD is already involved in statewide community investment projects, Robertson's role in that agency will be helpful to the Social Equity Council. Robertson agreed and noted that DECD has been involved in the creation of the low interest loan program for social equity cannabis entrepreneurs. "I think the DECD comes in with the focus of supporting these cannabis businesses," Robertson said. "Now the next phase is finding out how to take this money and reinvest it in those communities that have been adversely affected by the war on drugs." PAUL O. ROBERTSON Deputy Commissioner & Chief Operating Officer, Department of Economic and Community Development Chair, Social Equity Council Education: Bachelor's degree in communications, University of Hartford Age: 63

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