To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Departmental
SUBJECT:
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Project Trellis Cannabis Marketing Initiative and Presentation on the Humboldt County Cannabis Marketing Assessment
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive a staff report and presentation on the Project Trellis cannabis marketing initiative and recently completed Humboldt County Cannabis Marketing Assessment; and
2. Direct staff to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to encourage Humboldt County based non-profits to develop a program manual and plan for implementation of marketing efforts.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
1120 Economic Development Fund
DISCUSSION:
Project Trellis Background
On March 12th, 2019, your Board adopted a framework for Project Trellis, the County of Humboldt's Cannabis Micro-Grant, Marketing, and Local Equity Program. This three (3) tier program was developed on the heels of California's legalization of recreational cannabis to provide much needed resources to Humboldt's cannabis businesses who otherwise wouldn't have access to regular business programs due to federal prohibition on financial support for the cannabis industry.
The Marketing component of Project Trellis was designed, in part, because stakeholders agreed that Humboldt's economic future would be greatly influenced by how local cannabis businesses adapted to changes in the industry. This view is even more relevant today as the county takes steps to effectuate policies which will lead Humboldt County toward post COVID-19 economic recovery.
Humboldt is known internationally for its quality cannabis cultivation. Humboldt's cannabis industry has also been a significant economic driver in the county for decades. When staff conducted its initial public outreach during the creation of Project Trellis it was the cannabis stakeholders who identified that Humboldt County needed to maintain a competitive marketing advantage i...
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