KEWANEE, Ill. (KWQC) – Kewanee City Council approved two permits last month for HVN Capital, LLC to open a cannabis dispensary shop and build a growing facility.
The new shop will replace what was formerly known as the Broken Chimney restaurant on the south-end of town.
About 80% of the funding for the projects will come from local investors, including Kewanee-native and farmer, Chad Anderson.
“I’ve seen it as something that’s going to grow in the community and grow in the state,” Anderson said. “It’s already proved that it’s grown in other states. I’ve lived in this town my whole life, I like to see things succeed and move forward…and I think this is an opportunity to better the community…better tax dollars, and bring more money to the town.”
Last summer when HVN Capital LLC filed their permit applications with the city, the council voted to reduce the distance a dispensary could be located near a school in order to allow them to do business.
But some members of the community had concerns about their children’s safety.
“We have strong security that we have to follow that is state-mandated that we do have to follow,” Anderson said. “We’re way more secure than the gas stations that sell liquor, cigarettes or anything else that’s a lot easier to get a hold of.”
The group says they hope to have the building remodeled and secured to open the dispensary by this winter, while the growing facility will be built from scratch on the east-end of town.
If all goes to plan, they hope to have the growing facility operational in about two years.
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