If you are interested in helping local people navigate cannabis regulations, consider becoming a contracted Qualified Cannabis Consultant with the County of Humboldt. The county issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking qualified consultants to provide cannabis small business consulting services to those who have been affected by the War on Drugs.
The RFQ will allow the county to develop a pool of consultants from which it can choose to help clients. Consultants will then work one-on-one with small businesses and individuals through some of the more difficult issues related to operating a business or working in the cannabis industry. Cannabis consulting services are funded through the county’s Local Equity Program, one of three programs comprising Project Trellis, which supports Humboldt’s cannabis industry. More information on Project Trellis is included below.
Qualifications:
In order to qualify, prospective consultants must:
1. Familiarity with the California cannabis laws and requirements.
2. Provide, in the normal course of existing business, one or more of the following services to cannabis small businesses:
- Business Planning
- Loan application preparation
- Site location services.
- Human resource management
- Capital procurement services
- Bookkeeping and accounting practices and systems
- Formation and administration of Road Maintenance Associations
- Formation of agricultural cooperatives, or cannabis cooperatives
- Compliance
- Taxes
- Legal Services
- Professional Services
3. Knowledge of standard small business practices.
4. Familiarity with standard state and local cannabis documentation, including, without limitation, permitting and licensing process, environmental regulations surrounding cannabis.
5. Ability to complete projects in hours specified for individual projects.
6. Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Once approved, each Qualified Cannabis Consultant will receive a 12-month contract with a maximum payable amount of $50,000. Contracts may be extended for up to 3 years. For each eligible client they engage, the consultant will provide a detailed fee estimate, estimated time schedule and possibly a refined scope of work for each project.
Consultants will be expected to perform professional services needed to support cannabis small businesses. It is not required that consultants are able to perform each type of consultation service, but consultants should identify which of the following services they are able to perform.
How to apply:
As part of this process, consultants must be in compliance with any and all applicable local, state and federal licensure, certification and accreditation requirements and standards. Applications should be submitted one (1) original Statement of Qualification and one (1) electronic copy thereof in PDF format via email, at ProjectTrellis@co.humboldt.ca.us, by 4:00 p.m. PST, on May 28, 2021. Statements of Qualification shall be signed by an authorized agent of the Consultant and must be placed in a sealed envelope clearly marked “RFQ No.1120-275-PTEquity” along with the name and address of the Consultant and the closing date and time for submission of Statements of Qualification. Statements of Qualification that are unsigned, or signed by an individual not authorized to bind the prospective consultant, will be considered nonresponsive and rejected. Statements of Qualification shall be personally delivered or mailed to:
Humboldt County-County Administrative Office, Economic Development Division
Attention: Peggy Murphy, Economic Development Specialist
520 E Street
Eureka, Ca 95501
For more information, please reference the RFQ: https://humboldtgov.org/Bids.aspx?BidID=362.
About Project Trellis:
The three-tier program was developed to support cannabis businesses and individuals for the county’s cannabis industry. The program’s three levels of support include a Micro-grant program, a Local Equity Program and a Marketing and Promotion Program. The Micro-grant program provides cannabis businesses an opportunity to apply for funding to cover business related expenditures. The Local Equity program provides resources to local communities and individuals who have been impacted by the War on Drugs. The Marketing and Promotion component is designed to promote and maintain Humboldt-grown cannabis as a national and industry brand. Learn more about Project Trellis on the county’s website.
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