Political Landscape and Extramural Funding Programs

On May 3, 2024, ECOP hosted their monthly First Friday leadership enrichment session with members of the Cooperative Extension Section and 1994 Extension Directors. Political Landscape and Extramural Funding Program with Dr. Elizabeth Stulberg, Principal from Lewis-Burke Associates. Elizabeth offered a compelling explanation of USDA Budget process, who to talk to when, situational awareness of FY2025 federal budget and the farm bill, and valuable tips on advocacy. The slide presentation is available here. The following video is posted on ECOP's First Friday YouTube Playlist.

Remembering Ivory Lyles - Dr. Ivory W. Lyles (picture left) passed away unexpectedly on April 16, 2024. He served as a voting member of ECOP 2006-2009, (University of Arkansas), and 2019-2024, (University of Nevada-Reno and Oregon State University). In all, he served on the ECOP Program Committee. Other national system leadership roles include:

   • Lead for the ECOP Workforce PAT

   • Co-chair of ECOP 4-H Youth Development Task Force, 2005-2006

   • Extension Foundation Finance Committee, 2008-2009

Donations in Dr. Lyles’ memory may be made to the Ivory and Paulette Lyles Endowed Scholarship Fund at Alcorn State University at this link by debit/credit card or e-check. To give via check or money, make payable to Alcorn State University Foundation, Inc. and include "Ivory and Paulette Lyles ESF" on the memo line of the check. 

Mail to:

Alcorn State University Foundation, Inc.

1000 ASU Drive #810

Lorman, MS 39096

Contact information - Casey C. Mock, Finance and Accounting Manager, Alcorn State University Foundation, Inc., 601-877-6693 (Office), casey@alcorn.edu.

SARE Food Loss and Food Waste Initiative - The Southern region SARE program is soliciting a national Call for Proposals for the Food Loss and Waste Training and Technical Assistance Grants. The purpose of this one-time grant opportunity is to implement outreach, training, and technical assistance efforts to build capacity for food loss and waste initiatives.

Application deadline is June 28, 2024 at 5 p.m. ET. Projects will span three (3) years, beginning on September 1, 2024. Roughly two (2) to four (4) projects, capped at $1 million per proposal with an expected grant size of $500,000, are anticipated to be funded per SARE region: Southern SARE, North Central SARE, Northeast SARE, and Western SARE, so that regional priorities to addressing food loss and waste can be augmented, while allowing for national coordination and impacts. A total of $8 million is being funded nationally for the CFP Food Loss and Waste Training and Technical Assistance Grants effort.




New Financial Module for NIFA Reporting System - The NIFA Reporting System (NRS) Financial Module was released on May 1. The link to the Guidance Webinar Recording is found here. and is described in this YouTube recording. This release will give NRS Financial Administrators the ability to add, edit and submit FY 2023 Financial Reports for Capacity Funds in NRS.

Users will now submit all financial reports required for capacity funds in NRS. Financial Administrators will download the financial report template and upload the completed file directly into NRS, importing all FY 2023 financial data. The financial report template is an easy-to-use Excel file with project/program data prepopulated for ease of use. This streamlined report will cross reference and validate financial reporting information and alert the institution of potential report errors.

The FY 2023 Financial Report for Capacity Funds will be due on July 1. All financial reports must be submitted in NRS. Direct questions or concerns to the NRS Help Desk at nrs@usda.gov.




Extension Discount for Points of Light Volunteer Conference - The global organization Points of Light, is offering discounted registration for a professional development opportunity for Extension Volunteer, Master Gardener, 4-H and other Specialists. The 2024 Points of Light Conference, June 11-14, 2024, in Houston is a unique chance to network with 1,500 peers and choose from 70 workshops focused on volunteer engagement and volunteer management best practices. Over 2-and-a-half days, attendees gain full access to compelling discussions around Jumpstarting Strategic Volunteer Engagement Through Self-Assessment and Asset Sharing; Managing Through Uncertainty for Volunteers, Staff and Communities; Rural Volunteer Engagement; Building volunteer persona strategies for individuals, companies, and donors; and more.

This global event is for volunteer management experts who are looking for new ideas and approaches for leveling up their volunteer program.

Points of Light is offering Extension professionals a 10% discount off the $750 nonprofit registration rate, utilizing the discount code 4HPOL.Please share Registration today to lock in this special rate.

Reporting System Resources and Webinar

Extension Directors and Administrators are encouraged to visit, bookmark, and share the NIFA Reporting System (NRS) Website. The site provides access to insightful webinar recordings and summaries under the sub-heading of NRS Resources plus useful FAQs. Click here to sign up to receive monthly webinar email announcements and updates. NRS webinars are meant to inform NRS users of ongoing system modifications and enhancements, communicate critical dates, and gather end user feedback. The next Webinar will be held this Thursday, March 30, 2023, 2:00 PM ET to provide guidance for submitting the FY2022 Annual Report of Accomplishments that is due May 1. To register in advance, visit: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_jxNTXdWaSgeafW_Uc-7eTw.

Opportunity to Host 2024 NHOC - The National Health Outreach Conference is a three-day annual gathering of Extension faculty and staff, cross-campus collaborators, and external partners focused on the role that they can collectively play in improving the health and well-being of the nation. The conference has historically been held in May of each year and attracts approximately 250-300 participants. Typically included in the program are plenary sessions, concurrent sessions, and poster sessions. The conference is held in a different location each year. A conference planning committee assists with the duties related to hosting the conference. Institutions interested in hosting the conference are encouraged to submit their Application to Host to Roger Rennekamp at rogerrennekamp@extension.org by May 1, 2023. Proposals will be reviewed by a selection committee with goal of announcing the location of next year’s conference at the 2023 Conference to be held May 22-24 in Ithaca, NY.

National Extension Tourism Update - A new publication The NET Effect: Members of the National Extension Tourism Network Help Raise the Bar in Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation, by Extension Foundation documents innovative Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant programs in sustainable tourism and outdoor recreation. The programs highlighted in the report are models for Extension teams seeking to address opportunities in sustainable tourism, outdoor recreation, and community economic development. The resource is available as flipping book or as a PDF. More about the National Extension Tourism Network (NET) including its 2023 national conference, September 24-27 is found at extensiontourism.net.

Former ECOP Chair Receives ESP Ruby Award

Ed Jones, ECOP Chair 2018-2019, (Virginia Tech) is Epsilon Sigma Phi’s 2021 Distinguished Service Ruby award recipient. The award is designed to recognize outstanding leadership, innovative thinking, and sustained exceptional performance across a lifetime service in Extension. Currently, Ed who is pictured here, is serving as Liaison to the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee. Read more here. Congratulations Ed!



New Interactive Map Visualizes the Digital Divide - The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a new publicly available digital map that displays key indicators of broadband needs across the country. This is the first interactive, public map that allows users to explore different datasets about where people do not have quality Internet access. The public “Indicators of Broadband Need” tool puts on one map, data from both public and private sources. Additional resources can be found here, thanks to the National Digital Education Extension Team (NDEET)

USDA NIFA Launches NIFA Reporting System - On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, the NIFA Reporting System was officially launched, bringing research and Extension together in one system. In collaboration with Land-grant University System partners, the new platform provides grant management and reporting system that integrates the Plant of Work and REEport applications into a unified system. Land-grant universities can visit, https://nifa.usda.gov/tool/pow-nifa-reporting-system, to view the new system. The release comes exactly 23 years after U.S. Congress enacted the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 known as (AREERA). AREERA authorizes NIFA to provide capacity funding for agricultural research and Extension programs at 1862 and 1890 Land-grant Universities.

 

2021 National Extension Tourism Conference Registration Open - Registration is now open for the National Extension Tourism Conference conference, which is slated for Nov 7-11 in Savannah, GA. The network last met in 2019, and since that time tourism communities have faced immense challenges from natural disasters and social unrest to an ongoing global pandemic. How tourism professionals have responded and adapted to these changes continues to evolve. This year’s conference theme of “Navigating the Uncharted” will reflect on these transformations and catalyze future extension programming that best serves stakeholders’ needs. Please share the opportunity as appropriate. 



Leadership in the City Online Professional Development Program - Brent Hales (Penn State), ECOP Member and Liaison to the NUEL Steering Committee recommends Leadership in the City, a 5-month online professional development program prepares Extension professionals working in urban areas to be locally relevant, responsive statewide, and recognized nationally. To date 103 Extension professionals from 31 states have participated. This online professional development program offers learning about leadership, networks, innovation, marketing, management, and more. The program is based on a foundation of entrepreneurial theory and urban Extension practice and will build upon existing leadership experiences. This course is led by Dr. Julie Fox from The Ohio State University Extension. The investment in the program is $500. Multiple participants from the same institute are entitled to a $100 discount (Discount code: LITC22-MULT). Complete details and registration can be found at go.osu.edu/urbanleadership.

Urban Extension Session Review

Last Friday, 50 individuals participated ECOP's Learning for Leaders Event, Distinguishing Urban Extension in the System Landscape – Thought leaders’ exchange for future planning and policy. To review the video and companion materials go to:

--> Video link

--> Poll Summaries and Slides

--> Recent article in the Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Please email us at ecopblog@gmail.com to ask questions or provide further comment. Thank you.

EXCITE Announces Funding Recipients for Activities 1 and 2 - The Extension Foundation, in cooperation with ECOP, through an Interagency Agreement with USDA-NIFA and the CDC are funding the Cooperative Extension System to address health disparities among rural and other underserved communities. The EXCITE program serves all Land-grant universities through two sets of activities: system-wide engagement with the CDC’s Vaccinate with Confidence communication campaign and selected adult immunization education pilot projects. 73 applications for non-competitive Activity 1 funding were received from institutions representing all regions of Cooperative Extension. 30 applications were received for competitive Activity 2 funding involving 38 institutions representing five regions of Cooperative Extension; 24 were selected for funding. Read the full news release here.

ECOP Health Innovation Task Force Hosts National “Big Idea Leadership Summit” - On June 22, 2021, 12 pm-5pm ET, the ECOP Health Innovation Task Force, with support from the APLU Colleges of Human Sciences and Public Health and members of the community health, economic vitality, and workforce development sectors, are hosting a national virtual summit titled: “A Big Idea to Support Thriving Communities: Connecting the Dots of Business, Education, and Health with the Cooperative Extension System”. The goal of this Summit is to convene diverse leaders across the sectors listed above to explore existing initiatives, best practices, partnerships, and programs that bring urban and rural community stakeholders and residents together to concurrently advance community health, education, and economic outcomes. Invitations to participate in the Summit have been sent to each Extension Health Point of Contact and their Associated Extension Director or Administrator. Check out the event flyer for additional information and to register. Please direct questions to the Summit’s leadership – Erik Porfeli (Chair of Human Sciences, Ohio State University) and Michelle Rodgers (Director of Extension, University of Delaware) by clicking here.

Update on the NIFA Reporting System - The first iteration of the research initiation module for Hatch, Hatch Multistate, and Evans-Allen funded projects was successfully deployed on May 28, 2021. This is a significant step in the development of the NIFA Reporting System (NRS) and toward the goal of delivering a fully integrated reporting system for research and Extension projects and programs. NIFA appreciates the input and support provided by the research and Extension working groups and look forward to continued collaboration with our Land-Grant University partners on this project. Resources on how to access and use NRS are located here: https://nifa.usda.gov/tool/pow-nifa-reporting-system. Sign-up to receive invitations to webinars and other updates by sending an email to POW@usda.gov.

Farm Resilience Training Series Opportunity - The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, the University of Maryland Extension and the Extension Foundation invite Extension Professionals to a unique action-oriented training entitled Engaging Strategically to Build Farm and Farm Family Resilience. This training series will help participants understand the theory-based risk and resilience concepts and explore the resources in two new e-publications: Building Farm and Farm Family Resilience in our Communities - A Guide for Extension Professionals to Engage Strategically and the How to Conduct a Community Forum for Strategic Engagement. Planners of the event ask Extension Directors and Administrators to share this announcement with Extension professionals across all program areas.