2025 Nevada County Good To Grow Grant Program

Nevada County Cannabis Cultivators Invited to Apply for Good to Grow Grants

Current legal cannabis applicants and those interested in entering the regulated market in Nevada County can apply for financial assistance from the County’s Good to Grow Grant Program. The County has partnered with Sierra Business Council to administer and disperse grant funds and the Nevada County Cannabis Alliance to provide education and outreach services to cannabis applicants and cultivators.

To Apply, Review FAQ's and then Do Eligibility Quiz

Potential applicants are encouraged to review the Frequently Asked Questions section below before taking the eligibility quiz.
Take the Eligibility Quiz and Application.
The application period will open on September 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. and run through October 30, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. PST.

Grant Workshops

Sierra Business Council and the Nevada County Cannabis Alliance are hosting two workshops to answer questions for those considering applying for the grants:

Wednesday, October 1st, 4:30-5:30 p.m.-Board of Supervisors Chambers, Rood Center, 950 Maidu Ave., Nevada City, CA
Thursday, October 16th, 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Online Only (Zoom). http://www.nevadacountyca.gov/GoodToGrowWorkshop

About the Program

The Nevada County Good to Grow Grant Program is intended to address the challenges that are a result of the historical criminalization of cannabis and to create a more equitable and inclusive cannabis industry. The Grant Program has secured a second round of grant funds from the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). The program has been designed to provide support and assistance to existing cannabis applicants and those who may be interested in entering the regulated cannabis market.

GOBIZ Local Jurisdiction Assistance Grant

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) awarded Nevada County $500,000 to help reduce the barriers to entering the regulated cannabis marketplace. The grant program aims to support those who want to participate in the regulated market but may be facing economic or other significant restraints that previously prevented entry, i.e., those negatively affected by illicit cannabis cultivation. The Equity Program will assist applicants with costs associated with commercial cannabis, including local and state fees, licensing, regulatory costs, capital improvements, licensed professional consultants, environmental site development, best management/sustainable practices, business and employee education, training, and assistance with bringing properties into compliance.

Application Period

All applications received between September 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. and October 30, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. PST will be considered. Applications will be evaluated, with the grant funds to be distributed among all applicants found eligible according to the eligibility requirements.

This is NOT a first-come, first-served program. Applications will be evaluated as they are submitted and final amounts will not be determined or distributed until after the application period has closed on October 30, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. PST.

Additional Assistance and Questions

If you need assistance, please contact Sierra Business Council, the grant administrator, at 530-582-4800 x123 or grants@sierrabusiness.org.

Good to Grow Grant Program Process

Please note:

The row highlighted in GREEN indicates where we are in the process.
The text bubble icon indicates steps in the process when public hearings will be held.

STEPS	DESCRIPTION	CURRENT STATUS
	Apply for 24-25 GO-Biz Grant Funds	Completed
	Accept 24-25 GO-Biz Grant Funds	Completed
	2025 Application Window Open-September 30, 2025	In-progress
	Application Window Closed-October 30, 2025	Incomplete
	Applications Reviewed and Evaluated	Incomplete
	Awardees Identified	Incomplete
	Distribute Grant Funds To Eligible Awardees	Incomplete

Cannabis Equity Assessment Sets Foundation for Cannabis Equity Program

Equity is a key consideration as the state of California transitions the cannabis industry to legal status. Local Equity Programs are developing throughout the state in response to California Senate Bill 1294 the California Cannabis Equity Act of 2018. In order to develop a safe, legal, environmentally responsible, and thriving cannabis industry, Nevada County needs an equity program that makes sense for residents and considers the unique needs and assets of the community.

The Board of Supervisors and staff partnered with the California Center for Rural Policy (CCRP) at Humboldt State University to create a Nevada County Cannabis Equity Assessment (CEA). The purpose of this assessment is to:

Provide a data-informed look at the history of impacts of poverty and cannabis criminalization on the community.
Provide policy recommendations to guide the county in the development of a Local Equity Program. The program aims to help community members most impacted by criminalization and poverty to enter and thrive in the legal cannabis workforce.
Make recommendations for future research. This research will help assure that there is equity and diversity in the emerging cannabis industry.

The Cannabis Equity Assessment will inform the program's equity eligibility requirements, which are outlined in the Local Equity Program Manual. The Program serves to further the Board Objective to maintain and continue to improve the cannabis permitting to promote permitted cannabis activities. By creating a formal process to identify those uniquely affected by past cannabis policies, staff and community stakeholders will be able to assist those most impacted, particularly smaller growers.

Nevada County Cannabis Equity Assessment