UW Extension staff updated the Economic Development Committee on Oct. 2, 2025, about interim leadership changes and ongoing local projects, including Hmong grower outreach and plans for a regional housing summit.

Jason Houser, who said he works out of the dean’s office with Extension, explained that the area director, Patrick Gatterman, left and that Mallory McGivern is serving in an interim role. Houser said the university will post and recruit for a new area director and that the dean’s office is prioritizing local educators and on-the-ground programming.

The nut graf: committee members asked about specific Extension projects and how the office will continue services during leadership transitions; Extension staff said local programming will continue and that they will post an area-director recruitment in the coming months.

Program highlights presented: Mallory described outreach to Hmong farmers and a public Facebook group, “Wisconsin Hmong Growers,” used for educational materials and information sharing. Houser and McGivern said Extension educators are also working on a regional housing summit in partnership with community-development educators in adjacent counties; the summit will focus on housing as a regional economic-development issue and will be open to Marathon County participants.

Committee members asked for additional information about the Hmong grower videos referenced in the packet and about timing for the housing summit; staff said more information and links will be provided to the county once available. No formal action or funding requests were made during the update.

Ending: Extension staff said they will continue to post updates on recruitment and program plans and will make materials available to Marathon County when ready.