To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Modifications to the County of Humboldt Project Trellis Cannabis Local Equity Program Manual
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the proposed modifications to the County of Humboldt Project Trellis Cannabis Local Equity Program Manual (Attachment 2) retroactive to April 9, 2024.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board's Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: A Diverse, Equitable & Robust Economy
Strategic Plan Category: 2001 - Promote strong economic resiliency and growth
DISCUSSION:
The Local Equity Program (LEP) is a business support program funded through state and local funding to support individuals seeking to remain or enter the legal cannabis market. Applicants must demonstrate eligibility through meeting the criteria defined in the Project Trellis Cannabis LEP Manual which define the previous negative impacts they must have experienced during the prohibition of cannabis and their current situation in the market.
On April 9, 2024, your Board voted to approve modifications to the Project Trellis Cannabis LEP Manual. These modifications changed the eligibility criteria to meet the states requirements to receive funding and directed grant awards to prioritize payments on behalf of awardees to pay past-due local cannabis excise taxes, Planning and Building fees, and property taxes. These grants were released on a first come first serve basis with priority of payment being made to obligations owed to the county before the release of funding to an individual.
During journal entry processing for property taxes, it became clear that direct payment of property taxes was excessively complex given the limited funding, government code dictating rules on property tax payments and restrictions from the state on paying interest and fees on past due tax...
Click here for full text