[Jared Russell]

First, there are a LOT of schools out there that don't have enough teachers (a) interested in robotics, (b) with enough time to do FIRST, and (c) with skills commensurate to running a robotics team. One FRC team per high school will never happen for this reason.

So take applications from those who are interested.

Require the applications to have a business plan, and evidence of corporate sponsorship.

Sponsors, governments, and FIRST itself absolutely love to start new teams - but far too often, the teams are poorly supported. The number of teams that fold after a year or two is staggering. So require these teams to PROVE that they are going to do their best to create a sustainable program.

That's how you get the most bang for your buck.

PS - BTW, I would NEVER want grant money in FIRST to be based - even a little - on performance. Money for Regional Winners and Award Winners? That's not what we're all about.

1. Regional wins tend - but by no means always - to go to well-funded, or at least not impoverished, teams.
2. A lot of winning is luck.
3. Award selections are based on a judge's 10 minute appraisal of your team. They are nice, yes, but they have as much to do with how you sell yourself as they do with content.
4. This creates a conflict of interest for teams. You can keep kids inside the loop in the design process, but risk your funding, or you can ship your robot to the local engineering firm and get your check.