What are the CRRC and CRRF?
The Anne Arundel County Community Reinvestment and Repair Commission (CRRC) was formed in response to the Cannabis Reform Act, which was passed by the Maryland legislature in 2022. This act legalized adult-use recreational cannabis and led to the establishment of the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (CRRF). The purpose of the CRRC is to make recommendations for the use of the funds in the Anne Arundel County CRRF.
The Anne Arundel County CRRC and CRRF were established through a County Ordinance 57-23, which can be found here. The CRRC will be supported by Arundel Community Development Services (ACDS) who will be responsible for administering the grant funds from the CRRF, as recommended by the CRRC.
CRRC Members
The Community Reinvestment and Repair Commission is comprised of up to 13 members residing in Anne Arundel County, with members being nominated by the following:
9 members from the County Executive
2 members from the County Council
1 member from the Mayor of Annapolis
1 member from the Annapolis City Council
Eligibility
The revenue collected from the recreational cannabis sales tax is allocated to the CRRF. Grants will be available for “community-based initiatives intended to benefit low-income communities” in “disproportionately impacted areas.” Disproportionately Impacted Areas (DIAs) are defined as those that had a cannabis possession charge rate above 150% of Maryland’s 10-year average.
The Maryland Office of Social Equity has identified eight (8) zip codes in Anne Arundel County that have been designated as DIAs. A list of those zip codes can be found here and a map of those zip codes can be found here. Funding from the CRRF is specifically designated to serve residents in these identified communities.
ACDS, with the recommendations of the CRRC, will administer funds to a variety of programs and initiatives aimed at addressing issues such as homelessness, housing, and community development, among others.
Meetings
The first meeting of the CRRC will be held in September 2024, with additional meetings to follow.
How To Apply
The application process for CRRC grants has not begun. Please check back for more information as it becomes available in the future.
For more information, please contact Elisha Harig-Blaine, Assistant Planning Director, ACDS, at eharig-blaine@acdsinc.org.