METAB funding is down again in 2023 for a second year from its peak of $405,700 in 2021
The Chaffee County Marijuana Excise Tax Advisory Board (METAB) is launching its 2023 community grants funding cycle. Projections are that marijuana excise tax revenues to fund METAB grants will be approximately $ 120,000 in 2023. The drop in funding is the result of a maturing retail and medical marijuana markets, as several other states have now legalized retail marijuana sales.
In order to supplement this cycle’s METAB grant-making, Monica Haskell, Chaffee County Department of Human Services (DHS) Director who also serves on the METAB, pledged $50,000 from DHS budget to increase the funding for this year’s METAB grants.
The BoCC approved this additional funding at their November 13 Board of Human Services meeting. Combining the DHS contribution with the marijuana excise taxes received over the past 12 months, a total of $170,000 will be distributed through METAB grants this year.
“Being able to provide this additional funding from DHS to METAB helps support the positive impacts that align with both METAB and DHS’ missions and is a great way for DHS to have a fair and objective process for our funding decisions,” said Haskell.
Eligibility and grant types
Organizations eligible for METAB grants include nonprofits and public sector organizations serving the youth of Chaffee County or providing services in one or more of the following areas: human services (including youth services); public health (including mental health); workforce and family housing; and government agencies for the regulation of marijuana and other drugs and enforcement of related laws.
The 2023 grants cycle will include mini-grants, which offer a simplified grant application for requests of $5,000 or less, and full program awards for requests of up to a maximum of $20,000 per project or program. Applicants may apply for both grant options. Collaborative and cooperative applications are encouraged.
Timeline and process begin Nov. 27
METAB grants coordinator, Ben Doon, will hold an optional informational meeting from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. on Monday, November 27 to explain the METAB grant program, application process, and answer questions.
The session will be in-person at 104 Crestone Ave, Salida, in the BoCC Chambers or online.
Full grants require a pre-application letter by Dec. 15
Applicants for the full grant must submit a mandatory pre-application letter of interest through the METAB grants portal no later than December 15th, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. (Note: pre-application is not required for mini-grant applications.)
To register an organization, submit a pre-application, and access the full applications visit the grants portal. METAB will notify qualified applicants with an invitation to proceed with the full application on a rolling basis as pre-applications are submitted.
Apply by Jan. 31, Awards in March 2024
The full grant application portal is now open, and will remain so through the application submission deadline of January 31, 2024.
Grant awards will be announced in early March 2024 after the BoCC approves the board’s recommendations.
Contact METAB administrator, Ben Doon, at metabgrants@gmail.com with any questions.
METAB is an advisory group to the Chaffee County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) that recommends competitive grant awards in support of local public benefit programs and initiatives. METAB grants are funded through a local voter-approved excise tax levied on unprocessed marijuana sold or transferred in Chaffee County, which have resulted in more than $1.22 million invested into the Chaffee County community since their launch in 2017.
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