Walworth County Extension staff brief committee on strategic goals, funding and partnership guidance

Extension staff provided an orientation to the Division's strategic goals and how those priorities map to local programming at the committee's May 20 meeting.

An associate area director walked supervisors through packet materials, pointing to the strategic plan (packet page 4), the county extension overview, and a funding summary (packet page 6) that outlines how the Division of Research and Extension leverages federal, state and local sources. Staff called out FoodWIse as a federally funded grant program that operates through Extension rather than as a county contract. The presenter also flagged a redline version of an extension–zoning partnership guidance document prepared in collaboration with the Wisconsin Counties Association, and asked members to forward comments; staff said the guidance updates are expected in July.

Staff emphasized the partnership model between extension, county government and local nonprofits for delivering programming. Packet pages referenced definitions and mutual responsibilities for the committee's role and for Extension staff.

Committee members were invited to submit suggestions to staff; no formal policy action or binding vote on the guidance was taken at this meeting. Staff identified the July timeframe for the next steps on the partnership guidance.