Cyndy Ortiz Gustafson and Jennifer Oullette
Abstract: Federal grant funding in Nevada accounts for 19 percent of statewide federal funding, or roughly $3.7 billion a year. Federal grant funding consists of (1) formula based aid and, (2) competitive discretionary grant dollars. Nevada is 50th out of 50 states in securing federal formula and grant funding, ranking behind all other states and most territories (which would make us 52nd or 53rd behind states and territories) in competing for and obtaining competitive grants and formula funding. Over the course of the last ten years, Nevada ranked 50th in federal grant expenditures every year, with the exception of two years (2005 and 2008), when Nevada claimed the 49th spot. Nevada is failing by every measure, and the cost is dramatic. This failure affects Nevada’s quality of life measures, our efforts to provide high quality education for children and college students, the ability to attract new and innovative businesses to the state, and the capacity to invest in economic development and infrastructure projects, healthcare initiatives, public safety improvements, and services for veterans and seniors.