MSU Extension Funding Priorities
Michigan residents' needs and interests are the driving force behind MSU Extension programs. In 2001, volunteer county Extension council members, along with staff members in every Michigan county, selected focus areas for local programming. Regional Extension council conferences provided an important opportunity to highlight the issues identified by stakeholders across the state.
The primary purpose of the sharpening our program focus process was to identify local needs for educational programming. Each county undertook a customized process and selected initiatives specific to its communities. Five major statewide themes emerged from these processes:
- Building strong communities.
- Helping youth succeed.
- Enhancing profitability in agriculture.
- Encouraging responsible land and natural resources use.
- Building healthy families.
Building strong communities: Michigan citizens identified a variety of opportunities for MSU Extension to assist them in their quest for strong communities. They spoke of the need for increased education in community development and collaboration, economic development, housing and health care. Other focus areas identified include education, diversity, leadership, tourism and volunteer development. These themes were prominent in both urban and rural communities.
Helping youth succeed: Residents expressed strong desire for educational programming to help young people avoid behaviors that place them at risk. Positive youth development programming should be enhanced, they said, and particular emphasis should be placed on reducing violence involving youth.
Enhancing profitability in agriculture: Farm economics and viability concerns echoed across the state. Residents asked MSU Extension to help them explore agricultural diversity, niche markets and value-added opportunities and to continue farm management education for producers.
They also asked for increased emphasis on animal health issues, the economic impact of manure issues, maintaining profitability of small and part-time farmers, and maintaining profitability while enhancing environmental stewardship.
Encouraging responsible land and natural resources use Decision making and leadership development around natural resources and land use issues is important to Michigan residents. In the land use arena, they especially cited farmland preservation, sprawl and planning and zoning issues as areas where MSU Extension should focus resources, along with brownfield redevelopment and urban land use concerns.
County Extension council members asked for more information and education about such issues as environmental quality, forestry, natural resources, water quality and wildlife management.
Building healthy families Extension council members and other stakeholders in nearly every county asked MSU Extension to focus on enhancing family assets. They also asked for educational programming on quality day care, family relationships, human development and parenting, and family resource management.
Concerns about nutrition and food were also prevalent. Stakeholders asked for educational focus on the safety of our food supply, development of healthy lifestyles, and family nutrition education.
For complete information on the program focus input gained from stakeholders in the sharpening our program focus process, see county-by-county and theme-by-theme data at:
Following are funding priorities for specific MSU Extension programs.
Victor Institute for Responsible Land Development and Use Endowment This endowment would add to an initial $1 million gift from David Johnson, chairman of Victor International Corporation. The mission of the Victor Institute is to provide research-based information to all stakeholders who desire to build better communities through responsible use, development and redevelopment of Michigan's land and water resources, and thereby achieve a higher quality of life for all.
Natural Features Inventory Program Endowment This endowment would match a $300,000 endowment gift from The Nature Conservancy to enhance existing programs in Michigan Natural Features Inventory, currently funded entirely by grants. The endowment earnings will be used to support programmatic efforts in development of educational and outreach programs and materials about Michigan's natural resources for continuing education students, agencies, and other public groups; providing capstone experiences for undergraduate natural resources students through field-based internships; and enhancing support of MSU Extension programs related to natural resources.