Cannabis committee approves nonprofit grants, sets tighter rules and schedule for small-business grants

Porterville's Cannabis Committee on Aug. 25 approved a set of nonprofit community-benefit grants that had completed applications and gave staff direction to tighten application windows, award timing and post-award reporting for future rounds.

The committee voted to recommend funding the nonprofit applications that had complete files as of the committee review; no dollar amounts were finalized in the committee record during the motion, and staff said the award list will be forwarded to city council for final action. "To approve the nonprofit grants, the ones with the date complete," a committee member said; another member seconded the motion and the chair called the vote. "Aye. All in favor? Aye," the transcript records.

Why it matters: the grants are drawn from Porterville's cannabis-related community-benefit fund and are intended to support nonprofits and small businesses in the city. Committee members asked staff to make the program clearer and enforceable so funds are used as intended.

What the committee decided and directed

- Nonprofit…