Construction is nearing completion on the first building that will house a new marijuana growing operation in Lawrence. 305 Farms began work on the 40-acre site in 2020. CEO Matthew Peon tells WSJM News the plan is to start out with about 50 employees this year and then expand to more buildings and up to 200 employees in the next few years.
“The first building is 60,000 square feet and that’s expected to be completed later this month, at which point we will be operational and able to move plants in by March 1,” Peon said. ”
Entry level employees will earn a campus minimum wage of $20 per hour with paid benefits and vacation time. Peon says this is an indoor grow operation.
“Sometimes there’s a misconception that because it’s cannabis, it’s just a bunch of people standing around smoking weed and in between those smoke breaks, they get some work done. What we’ve been communicating from day one is this is essentially a large scale agricultural operation. It would be no different than if I was growing hydroponic lettuce indoors.”
Peon says the village of Lawrence has been a good partner in that local officials were up front about their concerns and 305 Farms was able to address them without the project being put on hold. 305 Farms has paid the village of Lawrence $141,000 in reservation and licensing fees so far, and when all phases of construction are completed, that number will grow to more than $200,000 per year.
