After years of stretching resources, navigating red tape, and watching neighbors give up halfway, there’s a quiet hope rising in Nevada County. The Good to Grow Grant Program is back — and this time, it’s bigger, clearer, and with intention. Whether you’re already in cannabis permitting limbo or you’ve been dreaming of stepping into the regulated market, this round might be the hand you need to cross the threshold.
What’s On the Table (and Why It Matters)
Nevada County is distributing roughly $440,000 in grants this round. Awards are not expected to exceed $5,000 per applicant. These aren’t loans — you don’t pay it back (unless you divert funds or leave things incomplete). The goal: reduce cost barriers for local cultivators and regulated-market entrants — to level the path.
Funds can cover state or county permitting fees, fire-district fees, professional consultants, site planning, environmental studies, compliance work, infrastructure upgrades, or training. The catch: you must use them for your stated project and provide receipts if asked.
Applications open Sept 30 at 10 a.m. and close Oct 30 at 5 p.m. No paper forms. All online via the County’s Good to Grow portal. This isn’t “first come, first served” — scoring is one after the window closes.
Eligibility Checklist (Do You Qualify?)
To move forward, you’ll need to satisfy both the basic eligibility criteria and hold rights or representation over a cultivation site in unincorporated Nevada County.
Here’s how to vet yourself:
You are or were a cannabis permit applicant in Nevada County, or engaged in cannabis work, and you have a record (arrest or conviction) for a non-violent cannabis-related offense, or had asset forfeiture related to cannabis.
Or, a family relationship qualifies you: parent, sibling, or child with such a non-violent cannabis conviction.
Or, low income status: your business is located in a high-poverty area or your personal/household income is below the county median (~ $87,200)
You must be the authorized representative or owner of the cultivation site (in unincorporated county areas) you propose to improve.
One person = one application. Even if you own multiple permits or sites, you pick one.
Double-check: the criteria are broad by design, especially to favor those historically disadvantaged. This is part of the county’s equity push.
If you don’t meet criteria, you’ll be stopped at the eligibility screening. If you’re deemed ineligible and think that’s wrong, you can contact Sierra Business Council (530-582-4800 x123) for help.
Workshops are scheduled to help folks understand the process:
Oct 1, 4:30–5:30 p.m. — Board of Supervisors Chambers, Nevada City
Oct 16, 3–4 p.m. — Online Zoom session
You can access the application on the County’s official Good to Grow page: NevadaCountyCA.gov/GoodToGrowGrants
Even a “small” award of $3–5k might mean the difference between permit compliance or getting stuck. For small operators, that money can unlock access to consulting, permit fees, or site upgrades that were previously out of reach. For folks hurt by criminalization, this is an opening. For our local cannabis economy, this is infrastructure — not just cannabis plants, but trust, legitimacy, and new roots.
This is more than dollars: it’s a chance to align your work with legality, community, and regenerative practice. If you’ve been waiting for a push that respects your roots, this might be it. Don’t let logistics stop you — the County and Sierra Business Council are standing by to guide.
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