Executive Director, Staff, Volunteers and Constituents Expected to Inform Legislators that Not Funding Extension is Likely to Lead to Closure as Centennial Year Approaches
(JERICHO, NY) Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County (CCE-NC) invites the public and media to attend the Nassau County Legislative meeting on Monday, August 5, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building, located at 1550 Franklin Avenue in Mineola. Nassau County Extension personnel and concerned citizens are expected to express opposition to the continued absence of Nassau County annual budget line item funding.
Extension Executive Director Laura Hunsberger said, “county funding support has been cut by almost 97% since 1999. Full-time staff has been slashed by over 50% in the last three years, programs have been eliminated, furloughs and a host of other cost-cutting measures have been implemented. As the organization approaches its 100th year, it is almost certainly its last without appropriate budget funding by the county.” Hunsberger added, “If Nassau County Extension does close, the county’s residents would lose all of the matching funds from state and federal governments, along with a host of other benefits the community currently enjoys.” Economic impact information for 2012 is available at http://issuu.com/ccenassau/docs/cce-nc_2012_economicimpactstatement.
Nassau County Extension employs roughly 125 people at its seasonal peak, but without restored county funding, more employee layoffs are planned almost immediately. Facilities closures are also among the next steps, the first of which will be the East Meadow Farm. Hunsberger noted, “When Teddy Roosevelt envisioned a national extension system, it included a shared funding mechanism between counties, states and the federal government. I can only hope decision-makers will perform a cost/benefit analysis before determining Nassau County Extension’s fate. For example, our Master Gardener volunteers provided the equivalent of more than $140K in public services last year alone, and that figure does not even begin to account for the many other economic and quality of life benefits that result from having an extension office. It is also worth noting there has never been an extension office closure under circumstances like this in the entire one-hundred year history of extension in New York. Regrettably, it would be statewide news if Nassau County Extension is forced to close its doors.” Without a county funding commitment before October 2013, Extension will begin winding down areas of its operations and undertaking the process of facility closings later that month.
ABOUT
CCE-NC is an educational subordinate governmental agency association that provides research-based information and educational programs designed to build strong and vibrant communities. CCE-NC is also a §501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to building healthy lifestyles and healthy communities by conducting educational programs that connect Cornell University resources to community needs for all Nassau County residents. CCE-NC has been educating and disseminating information since 1914, through funding and resources provided by Nassau County, New York State (through Cornell University), USDA, a variety of grant partnerships, and direct financial support from generous donors who support our nonprofit public service mission.
Since 1924, the Dorothy P. Flint 4-H Camp (DPF) has provided youths and adults with a supportive STEM-based learning environment for a fun, hands-on educational experience that promotes independence, leadership development, respect, generosity, tolerance and positive self-esteem all under the guidelines of the 4-H and Cornell Cooperative Extension principles and missions. DPF is operated by CCE-NC and accredited by the American Camp Association.
