House panel hears $500,000 transfer for cannabis equity grants and update on Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program

Brett Long, deputy commissioner of the Department of Economic Development, told the House Appropriations Committee that language in the proposed Budget Adjustment Act would move a $500,000 appropriation tied to cannabis social equity grants from the administrative section of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development to the Department of Economic Development.

"We are the recipients of funds that ... provide grants to cannabis people interested in cannabis business or pursuing a cannabis business, that have a social equity issue," Long said, describing the proposed transfer of spending authority from ACCD administration to DED. He said the change is largely administrative and aligns the appropriation with the office that manages and disperses the grants. Committee staff and members referenced the draft language and located it near section 60 of the proposed budget adjustment documents; no committee vote was…