WSU Extension reports $100,000 carryover award for Forest Youth program; staff flag reimbursement timing risk

Honey Reynolds, extension director for WSU Extension in Skamania County, told the board on Feb. 25 that the county’s Forest Youth for Success program has a $100,000 carryover award tied to Title II funds and other project reimbursements, but staff want to reduce financial risk tied to timing of federal reimbursements.

Reynolds said the $100,000 originates from carryover and reimbursable grant funding; the county’s fiscal partner for those grants is the local school district, which currently issues checks for payroll and invoices. Reynolds said the county is discussing options including requesting project reimbursement earlier in the grant cycle so the program would not front payroll while waiting for federal reimbursement.

Reynolds also reported other implementation challenges: a recent Administration decision removed existing application forms for a Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) appointment process and staff do not expect RAC appointments to move forward in the near term. That uncertainty affects potential federal partnership opportunities the extension has pursued.

On program operations, Reynolds and Summer (WSU staff) described recruiting issues for seasonal crew-leader positions and the need for reliable adult crew leads for the summer season. Extension staff noted the county’s recent agreements and awards include smaller Title II project funds and an additional eight projects that received funding; program staff are coordinating with fiscal partners to ensure timely reimbursements and to minimize payroll risk.

Reynolds highlighted the county’s green-team and food-rescue project working with the school district, food bank, local farmers and the PTA. The program diverts served and unconsumed food from landfill, redirects usable food to students and the food bank, and sends scraps to livestock farmers; extension staff reported the green team diverted about 10,000 pounds from the landfill last year, an estimated reduction of 5,000 pounds of CO2 emissions.

Reynolds invited commissioners to upcoming invasive-species and applicator-credit workshops and said WSU plans local programs on viticulture and other forestry topics this year. She requested continued coordination with the county on grant timing and fiscal procedures to reduce exposure to reimbursement delays.

Ending: Extension staff asked the board to note the reimbursement timing risk for the Forest Youth award and to support coordination with the county’s fiscal partner to mitigate cash-flow exposure.