Diana, a SNAP‑Ed representative with University of Illinois Extension, told the Kane County Agriculture Committee on Sept. 18 that federal SNAP‑Ed funding “officially ends on September 30,” and that the Extension can only use unspent funds through 2025 before staff positions and many direct services will be eliminated.

The SNAP‑Ed program provides nutrition education, public‑health campaigns and policy, systems and environmental support tied to the U.S. Department of Agriculture grant administered through the Illinois Department of Human Services and implemented by University of Illinois Extension. Diana said the program delivers cooking classes, tastings, partner technical assistance and the Find Food Illinois public‑resource map that lists pantries, meal sites, farmers markets and SNAP/WIC offices.

The program’s local footprint in Kane County includes 4,062 direct education contacts, 59 percent of whom identified as Hispanic and 15 percent as Black; more than 85 policy, systems and environmental changes at partner sites; 4,032 pounds of donated food last year; and about $31,000 in external funds secured for partner sites, Christine Burns of Extension said. Burns and Diana presented the updates together.

"The funding has disappeared," Diana said. "Moving forward, all of that work that we've done across our community for 30 plus years disappears without some sort of alternative funding." She added that, because staff are already seeking other jobs, Extension will limit hands‑on activities: "We're not doing any food demonstrations, cooking activities, or tastings."

Committee member Michael Leonard asked how the program's cited return on investment — $9.54 in future benefits for every dollar spent — was measured. Diana said the ROI study covered multiple years and was based on projected long‑term health and food‑security benefits, but she did not provide a specific time horizon.

Local partners described how SNAP‑Ed services connect to food‑pantry operations. A representative of the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry described the pantry's packages and food rescue operations: "We try to give them the minimum is about 15 pounds ... a dozen eggs ... usually, 2 to 3 packages of different meat," and said the pantry depends heavily on rescued fresh produce from regional grocery stores and a refrigerated truck to preserve donations.

Christine Burns described several Extension‑supported community gardens funded in part by a county grant from Matt's office and implemented by Extension staff and volunteers. Projects include a 12‑bed garden at a D300 school that donates produce to an on‑site pantry, four beds at the East Aurora Resiliency Center used in classroom cooking lessons, repairs and irrigation at the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry garden, a children's and adult garden at Mercy Housing, and an "Idea Garden" used to harvest donations for smaller pantries.

Diana and Burns urged partners and the committee to seek alternate funding sources. Diana said Extension can apply for Illinois Farm Bureau pollinator conservation or nutrient stewardship grants and that she has until Oct. 16 to submit program ideas. Steve Arnold of the county Farm Bureau also noted statewide grant opportunities administered by the Illinois Farm Bureau.

No formal action was taken on SNAP‑Ed funding at the Sept. 18 meeting. Committee members asked Extension staff to continue seeking grants and partner support; the presentation included no vote or binding county directive.

If alternative funding is not secured, the presenters said, local hands‑on education and some community garden supports will be reduced or end after the available carryover funds are exhausted.

Ending: Committee members and presenters said they would share the slide materials electronically with the full board and that Extension will continue grant applications and partner outreach while programs operate on a reduced basis.