Title
Approve a letter of support requesting that the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development reconsider an extension to the existing grant agreement related to the Growing Equity Together Program.
Report
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve a letter of support requesting that the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development reconsider an extension to the existing grant agreement related to the Growing Equity Together Program.
DISCUSSION/SUMMARY:
On September 6, 2023, the Cannabis Program (Program) presented a request to the Board Cannabis Committee (Committee) for the Board of Supervisors (Board) to sign a letter of support to the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) requesting an extension to the existing grant agreement. The Committee recommended the Board sign a letter of support and include relevant information on the delays the Growing Equity Together (GET) participants have faced to be able to utilize these grant dollars. If the extension is not approved, there will be approximately $400,000 that will need to be returned to the state.
As a recap, in December 2021, the Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted a resolution to authorize the creation and implementation of the GET Program, whose funding was contingent upon grant funding. Program staff applied for Type 2 funding through the Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions offered by GO-Biz and was awarded $550k to assist with the implementation of a local equity program. The GET Program and its accompanying funding was intended to provide those disproportionately harmed by the War on Drugs with the opportunity to participate in the licensed commercial cannabis industry.
Program staff have assisted applicants in identifying properties eligible for their proposed commercial cannabis activities and have coordinated meetings to discuss application requirements. Despite these efforts, just 3 of the 14 ...
Click here for full text