Federal grants are awards to state and local governments, universities, nonprofits, and other organizations. Unlike contracts, grants are not payments for goods and services — they are investments in public programs, research, and community development.
We analyzed USASpending.gov FY2024 data to identify the 25 counties where grants make up the largest share of total federal spending. These communities are heavily supported by federal grant programs.
Top 25 Grant-Heavy Counties
Ranked by the percentage of total federal spending that comes from grants (vs. contracts).
| Rank | County | State | Grant % | Total Grants | Total Spending |
|---|
What Grant-Heavy Counties Have in Common
- Major universities: Counties with large research universities receive significant NIH, NSF, and DOE research grants.
- State capitals: Counties hosting state capitals often receive high volumes of federal pass-through grants to state agencies.
- Rural development programs: Agricultural counties receive USDA grants for conservation, research, and rural development.
- Healthcare systems: Counties with major medical centers receive Medicaid, Medicare, and NIH funding that flows through grant mechanisms.
Methodology
Data from USASpending.gov, U.S. Department of the Treasury, FY2024. Grant-heavy ranking is calculated as (federal grant obligations / total federal obligations) × 100. Counties with missing grant or total spending data were excluded.
Data source: USASpending.gov, U.S. Department of the Treasury, FY2024 (Oct 2023 – Sep 2024). All figures are estimates based on federal obligation data and may not reflect current spending.