By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
The Sullivan County Delegation unanimously voted to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the University System of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension at their meeting on Monday.
Interim Director Amy Loader met with the delegation, and explained that the MOU expired this year. Cooperative Extension is a department of all state research institutions that was created by an act of Congress in 1914. Loader said their job at the Cooperative Extension is to translate scientific research done by universities for what typical people can use in their jobs. This is started with agriculture, forestry, 4-H programs, youth development, food safety and home economics.
“It has expanded a lot over the years,” said Loader. “Our state requires us to come back to each county every six years and say, if it’s true, ‘we intend to keep an office active and open in your county.’ And we ask you to agree in spirit to do the same thing.”
She said this is to keep the staff here in Sullivan County and keep funding that. According to the last budget every one dollar committed to the office, they have put in an additional $1.91. This is through multiple sources of funding, including the state budget, USDA, gifts, program fees and a variety of grants.
“Overall, the counties contribute together, collectively, about 14% of the Cooperative Extension’s budget,” she said. “So that is our intention. We come to you as we have been for the last over 100 years to as you to pass our annual budget. We’ve adopted it, but the Memorandum of Understanding is in spirit.”
Rep. Judy Aron said the Cooperative Extension bills the county for the services they provide, and this year was $309,000. She asked if there may be any increases coming, and Loader said the Cooperative Extension only ask for the Consumer Price Index unless the delegation tells them they want more capacity in a certain area. This was done not long ago with creating a position, she said, but right not it would just be the Consumer Price Index increase.
In response to COVID-19, Loader said that they did not ask for an increase in previous years.
Loader said that while there are some instances where there are nominal fees if food is served, they try to make their programs free or low cost.
“If for any reason someone cannot pay or prefer not to pay, we actually have in our mandate through USDA that we don’t charge for programs, if people can’t afford it or have a reason to not pay,” Loader said.
Rep. Hope Damon is a “forever 4-Her,” and she praised the Cooperative Extension for all the work they do.
“Your programs have a very positive impact on a lot of people,” said Damon.
The current MOU expires on Sept. 6 and this accepted MOU will begin then and run until Sept. 6, 2030.
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