The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday accepted a $275,000 state grant that will be used to help develop a retail cannabis sales ordinance for the unincorporated areas in Nevada County.
The funding comes in two parts. First, $200,000 will fund the development of ordinance preparation, workshops and the necessary steps to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Funding also supports consultant work on stakeholder engagement and outreach which will provide the public an opportunity to participate and provide input. An additional $75,000 in equity funding will be made available through the program when the ordinance is approved. These funds will be available through an application process for approved applicants in their effort to start their cannabis business.
Diana Gamzon, executive director of the Nevada County Cannabis Alliance, expressed support for the grant at Tuesday’s meeting.
“What’s really exciting about this grant is it can provide for creative retail experiences,” she said. “We really can think outside of the box to develop unique tourism opportunities that focus on things that we value about our cannabis industry here – education, wellness, and health. The funds can be used as a source of economic development by creating policy for retail in areas not currently being served by a cannabis retail location.”
The grant runs through June 2026. Matt Kelly, the county’s cannabis code and compliance director, said he hopes to bring a cannabis ordinance update to supervisors for review in spring or summer.