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CSU Extension reopens Lake County office and seeks community input on local programs
Summary
Diana Solenberger, recently hired as Lake County’s CSU Extension director, told commissioners the office reopened in December and that her near‑term plan is to gather stakeholder input to design local programming; initial priorities include high‑alpine gardening, weeds management and youth/4‑H activities.
Colorado State University Extension’s newly hired director for Lake County, Diana Solenberger, told the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 20 that the county office has been reopened and that she is conducting outreach to determine programming priorities.
Sol enberger said Lake County’s Extension program had closed in 1977, briefly reopened in 2022 and was closed again at the end of 2023; she was hired in December to restart the county program. County funding covers 20% of the position’s salary and benefits while CSU funds the remaining 80%, she said.
Near‑term approach: Solenberger said her first priority is listening to community stakeholders to identify gaps that CSU Extension can fill without duplicating existing local efforts. She is meeting community groups, the library and school‑age programs and plans to begin programs within a few months. She flagged several recurring local interests: high‑alpine gardening, noxious‑weed support, home wildfire‑preparedness and youth/4‑H healthy‑living programming. She said CSU has regional specialists and funding streams (including youth and 4‑H grants) that can be tapped to accelerate new programming.
Budget and operations: the county contributes to the local extension account for professional services and a small amount for training and supplies. Solenberger said she will seek supplemental funding and partnerships to expand programming beyond the modest county contribution.
Quote: “My goal is more to find the gaps, to see where I can fit in, and what programming CSU can provide that’ll fit those areas, or how can I elevate or expand the program that’s starting to be done?” Solenberger said.
Next steps: she plans to meet Lake County community groups in the coming weeks and hopes to return to commissioners with a program schedule and requests for targeted support and partnerships.
