To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
SUBJECT:
title
Project Trellis Local Equity Program Grant Funding Spring 2023 and Supplemental Budget (4/5 Vote Required)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the State of California Cannabis Equity Act Grant funding; and
2. Authorize the County Administrative Officer to execute the grant agreement, and any subsequent amendments, with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development; and
3. Approve the attached supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2022-23 in Fund 1120, Budget Unit 275422 (4/5 Vote Required).
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Economic Development (1120), Project Trellis Equity Fund (1120 - 275422)
DISCUSSION:
On March 19, 2019, your Board approved Resolution No. 19-24 adopting the Humboldt County Cannabis Local Equity Program Manual for the operation of the County of Humboldt Local Equity Program (LEP), in response to Senate Bill (SB) 1294: the California Cannabis Equity Act of 2018. The LEP Manual focuses on the support of individuals and communities in Humboldt’s cannabis industry who are linked to populations or neighborhoods negatively or disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization. With the adoption of the LEP, your Board authorized the Economic Development Division to apply for the Bureau of Cannabis Control’s (BCC) Cannabis Equity Grant (CEG) funding.
Following the BCC’s initial award of $1,338,683, the BCC released administration of the CEG funding to the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-BIZ). Under the oversight of Go-Biz, Economic Development has received three additional awards of $2,459,581, $1,055,870, and $3,429,870 respectively. Project Trellis, through Economic Development, has disbursed the above awards to the Humboldt cannabis community. On Jan. 31, 2023, Economic Development was notified by GO-BIZ of yet another award for equity funding in the amount of $1,234,821.75 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 to FY 2023-24. These funds will be used to implement service items to the cannabis industry by direction of the approved LEP.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
The grant award will increase Economic Development’s Project Trellis budget unit (1120275422) by the amount of $1,234,821.75. These funds will be disbursed through fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24. Funds have been included in the proposed fiscal year 2023-24 budget for 1120275422.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impact:
This agenda will not increase our staffing levels but will increase staff workload as more Equity contracts are made with the community and funds disbursed.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Framework.
Core Roles: Protect vulnerable populations
New Initiatives: Provide community-appropriate levels of service
Strategic Plan: 3.2 - Stabilize and support a successful cannabis economy
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board could choose not to approve staff recommendation to accept this funding. This alternative is not advised as this grant provides critical support for the businesses of your community and constituency.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution 23-__ to accept Cannabis Equity Grant Funds
2. Project Trellis Local Equity Program Supplemental Budget
3. Project Trellis Local Equity Program Manual V2.1
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: I-2, C-11, H-2, D-7
Meeting of: May 28, 2019, January 12, 2021, February 1, 2022, March 8, 2022
File No.: 19-633, 21-1859, 22-94, 22-225