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USU Extension reports $3 million in grants, expanded youth and overdose‑prevention work in Utah County
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Summary
At the June 19 meeting USU Extension staff said they secured over $3,000,000 in grants supporting county programming, reported about 2,400 students attended recent farm field days, noted a $100,000 small‑farm water‑quality grant and described HEART Initiative opioid‑response trainings funded by roughly $30,000.
USU Extension staff briefed the Utah County Commission on June 19 about a year of programming and funding for county residents, highlighting grant revenues, youth programming and public‑health trainings.
Tuan Bettis, USU Extension county director, said the extension has "brought in over 3,000,000 in grants" that support local programming and do not include volunteer hours or specialist fees. Agriculture staff detailed farm field days that brought about 2,400 students this spring and estimated volunteer time valued at roughly $32,000.
Jake Atfield of the agriculture and natural resource group described research projects and grants, including a $100,000 small farm water‑quality grant from the Division of Water Quality and dry‑land alfalfa trials and forage research for the Palmyra area. Extension staff also noted a planned sustainable grazing workshop to disseminate best practices.
Gabriela Mirza, county faculty with the HEART Initiative, described opioid overdose response trainings funded by approximately $30,000 in grant support; trainings target service‑industry employees, labor crews and college populations, provide naloxone (Narcan) kits for participants and business kits for workplaces and aim to bridge the time until emergency responders arrive.
Extension staff also highlighted community leadership programming: Utah Valley Women in Leadership Collaborative (which has sought nonprofit status and local programming), storytelling curricula for extension faculty, and 4‑H program growth including a 23% increase in youth horse showing and expanded opportunities for small-animal exhibitors.
No formal action was requested; commissioners thanked extension staff and highlighted the programs' community value.
Source: Utah County Commission meeting, June 19 (USU Extension presentation).