PCA Launches Grant Program for State Associations (Update)

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) has announced a new grant program aimed at funding various state associations.

This new program will see the PCA award grants to state cigar retailers’ associations like, for example, the Texas Cigar Merchants’ Association or the New York Tobacconists’ Association. In order to receive the grants, the organization will need to apply to the PCA—applications can be submitted starting today—specifying what the money will be used for. As a condition to receive the grant, the state organization will need to agree to match whatever the PCA is awarding.

Update (Feb. 27, 2024) — The PCA has announced the first grants are for state organizations in Maryland, New York and Virginia. The organization said it expects to give a dozen

Joshua Habursky, PCA’s head of government affairs, told halfwheel that the grants will vary in dollar amount but provided a range of $5,000-15,000 per grant; there are no restrictions as to how much a state organization could ask for. The PCA is hoping to use this money to not only strengthen the more established state organizations but also to help with newer and less-funded groups.

“This is not only a way for us to support existing state associations and their advocacy capacity, but it also establishes a baseline for starting a brand-new state association with the prospective of seed funding,” said Scott Pearce, executive director of PCA, in a press release. “This criterion is a blueprint to get started and to receive funding. Our staff will continue to support individual associations and retailers with strategy and logistics, and this is a new tool to help maximize that effectiveness.”

In order to receive the grant, there are a variety of conditions beyond that the grant must be matched by the state group. These include:

• Have an incorporated and active state association.
• Have an elected board of directors.
• Have a designated treasurer, with authority over accounts.
• Agree to comply with PCA reporting requirements.
• Agree to PCA involvement in consulting lobbyist selection process.
• Agree to disclose any and all issues for which funds are used and for which lobbyist is engaged.
• Provide PCA with the operating budget and amount and source of funds raised by the state association.

In addition to the money, recipients of the grants will also have access to PCA’s resources such as staff and other legislative tools.

When asked if the PCA would exclude grants related to flavored cigars, a divisive topic that has at times fractured the cigar industry’s legislative efforts, Habursky said that “flavor bans are an important issue that affects the bottom line of retailers” and that it was amongst a group of “prime examples of state battles that the association will continue to fight alongside our state partners.” He added that the PCA’s legislative committee has the final say over what grants will be approved.

As for when these grants go out, it’s dependent on when the applications are submitted but it could happen as early as next month. Grants are good for one year, meaning that an organization that receives a grant in 2024 would need to reapply for that same grant for 2025.

Update (Feb. 27, 2024) — Added information about the first three grants. This post was originally published on Nov. 29, 2023.