The federal government froze spending on loans and grants earlier this week, causing an uncertain future for many programs and agencies in the county. The government has since rescinded the freeze.

Shortly before the freeze went into effect, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan blocked parts of the order. This allows funding to trickle through until a hearing scheduled for this upcoming Monday.

The impact to construction projects could be far reaching and detrimental. Project types likely to be negatively impacted if federal funding is reduced or withdrawn include:

• Transportation projects;
• Transit projects;
• Aviation projects, and
• Multifamily projects that utilize HUD or LITCH mechanisms.

A coalition of attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia, including Nevada’s Aaron Ford, created a lawsuit to cease President Trump’s executive order regarding the freeze.

In the face of the confusion and challenges created by the freeze, the Trump administration rescinded the order on Wednesday. Before stepping back the order, the administration had stated it planned to analyze how federal funds are being spent and cut down on things it views as unnecessary.

According to area news reports, a Pew analysis of U.S. Census Bureau and National Bureau of Economic Research showed Nevada had a higher total of revenue stemming from federal funds than the national average, with the Silver State pulling in more than $9.1B.

Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto announced a hesitation in approving Sean Duffy to lead the Department of Transportation. She cited the uncertainty of funding for seniors, veterans, families and “job-creating transportation projects statewide.”

Republican Governor Joe Lombardo made a statement indicating he is waiting to participate in a meeting with the Office of Management and Budget to discuss impacts the freeze may have on state agencies.

The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, Nevada Department of Transportation, Nevada Department of Health and Human Services and the nonprofit Opportunity Village are among some of the other agencies investigating how they will be affected by the freeze.

Other Affected Entities

Members of the administration claimed it is a “waste of taxpayer dollars,” to fund a vague number of social programs and federal projects. The administration claimed individuals will not stop receiving federal assistance such as Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, student loans and scholarships. Apart from that, nothing has been specified. Instead of offering clarity on the matter, the administration pointed to nebulous “wokeness” as the target of the funding freeze.

A variety of federally funded operations in Nevada are trying to find answers regarding the funding. Particularly health and education services have established fears of what could come of the freezing. For example, the nonprofit Nevada Health Centers had its 330 Grant paused. This grant funds 20% of the organization. Typically, the organization serves more than 50,000 people in Nevada annually.

President Trump has frequently expressed his disdain for the U.S. Department of Education. The Clark County School District claimed it has been working with the Nevada Department of Education to find potential solutions. District officials believe there will be no immediate disruptions to programs and student services but will keep families updated as more impacts become clear.

A report from the Nevada Independent stated Nevada had been ranked 46^th in the nation for education with statistics from 2022. The report also found that 73% of fourth graders in the Silver State did not meet reading standards and 79% of eighth graders did not meet math standards.

Nevada’s public higher education institutions have received millions of dollars of federal funding. Nevada’s universities also have DEI programs, which are programs Trump has criticized numerous times. In 2023, University of Nevada, Reno received more than $22M and University of Nevada, Las Vegas received more than $10M in federal funding from the National Science Foundation. The foundation focuses on supporting researchers. Officials at UNR stated it is unclear how the institution will be affected.

UNR applied for Hispanic Serving Institution status, which would allow the institution to seek an array of federal grants. An institution can only receive the status if its enrollment is at least 25% comprised of Hispanic undergraduate full-time students. UNLV already has HSI status.

Agencies are to submit a report on programs, projects and activities by Feb. 10.

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The project consists of two buildings on an 18.5-acre site. The entire parcel is 40.9 acres and is anticipated to receive further developments in future phases.

The 62.8KSF building is to be called the Center for Excellence in Public Safety. The center will be located at North Durango Drive and West Elkhorn Road. The staff report indicates the main purpose of the project is to provide an education facility for law enforcement and correctional officers. The center will also include more traditional educational services and a library.

The project also contains a 3.5KSF central plant building connected to the other building by a pedestrian mall. An emergency vehicle operations course is also proposed along Durango Road and Oso Blanca Road. The course would require fresh pavement, 10-foot screen walls at the perimeter and 15-foot retaining walls on the interior to mitigate sound and light.

The first phase of development will be able to accommodate up to 485 students. Only 122 parking spaces are required, but the applicant anticipates high commuter rates; so 391 spaces are to be provided. A walled/gated parking lot with a capacity of 67 vehicles is also included in the lot for emergency vehicles.

The main building will be two stories and 44 feet tall. The exterior is noted to have a light grey textured panel accented with wood-like cladding. Windows are to consist of around 60% of the north/south elevations. Rooflines are flat and articulated, with mechanical equipment screened by parapet walls.

The central plant building is to be a windowless, 20-foot-tall building featuring a patterned CMU exterior. The building will also feature a roll-up door on the west end. The design firm attached to the project is Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects.

The location is zoned as Town Center with a Public Facilities – Town Center designation. The college campus is an acceptable use in the existing zoning. Immediately to the west is land that is a part of the campus site, which will most likely be part of future phases of the campus development.

Immediately south of the site is land designated as Montecito – Town Center, which contains an existing shopping center. The north and east of the site is also zoned Public Facilities – Town Center and is used for Southern Nevada Regional Transportation Commission services.

According to a Board of Regents briefing paper, PENTA Building Group will serve as the Construction Manager at Risk.

Northwest Campus Design Standards

A 2017 development agreement between the City of Las Vegas and NSHE regulates land use that will guide campus development. More specifically, the Northwest Campus Design Standards influence the design, height, setbacks, streetscape, landscaping, parking lot and signage.

Any developmental details not in conformance with the standards require a Waiver of the Town Center Development Standards Manual. The waiver requires a Major Site Development Plan Review. The staff report cites three parts of the development requiring review.

The first portion of the development requiring the site plan review is the height of the perimeter walls surrounding the emergency vehicle operations course. Staff recommended approval of the walls, as the track “serves a beneficial public purpose, the walls serve to block potentially unwanted light and sound and the track is located away from residential areas.”

A waiver was also requested for fewer parking lot island/endcap planters than standards require. Staff recommended approval of this waiver due to the applicant providing extra box trees around the perimeter of the parking lot.

The final portion of the development requiring a review is the location of the parking lot. Typically, the design standards require parking lots to be constructed at the side/rear of the buildings and away from rights-of-way/street corners. A waiver is not required for this portion, as there are no future buildings intended along Grand Montecito Parkway.

Access to the building will be provided via a driveway from Grand Montecito Parkway and a driveway from Ace Blvd. The educational building is to be located along the front of Elkhorn Road. A condition of approval requires the applicant to provide a pedestrian crossing on Elkhorn Road, which must be approved by the City of Las Vegas Traffic Engineer.

The staff report also indicated the site was conveyed by the federal government. Portions of the roadways have already been constructed in the boundaries of the site, but improvements are still required.

Staff approved the site plan development review with conditions. Further developments of the campus are subject to a minor site plan development review unless the developments are deemed to not be in conformance with design standards.

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