College cuts could impact Nevada's economic development KRNV & MyNews4.com

Two rural Nevada colleges are taking a budget hit under new legislative cuts and some are worried about the economic impact to the state. The Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means Committees voted to shift funding from Great Basin College in Elko and Western Nevada College in Carson City, to colleges in Southern Nevada. It's part of the states new higher education funding plan. "This has been in the conversation for quite some time," said Northern Nevada Development Authority Executive Director Rob Hooper. "We were hoping that WNC and Great Basin would be held harmless, that we wouldn't see the dollars being shipped to the south quite frankly." Hooper said the NNDA works closely with Western Nevada College to place graduates into fields including manufacturing and health care. He said they're worried that the new budget cuts will decrease the states workforce and prevent companies from expanding to Nevada. http://www.mynews4.com/news/story/College-cuts-could-impact-Nevadas-economic/1UcD9FN0hUWMPqMaz5I9RA.cspx