The state of Florida does not nourish beaches except for those within state parks. The state does provide funding opportunities through grants to help local governments like Pinellas County. To receive state funds, local governments must apply and have their projects ranked. These grants are very competitive because most local governments that nourish beaches apply for supplemental funding. A key factor in the ranking process is a federal project authorization. Federal projects score higher and the Sand Key beach nourishment project is a federal project. Without federal funding, the county’s cost would likely rise from $7.8 million (2018 county cost) to the full project cost of more than $40 million and become even more expensive in the future.