4-H spared in state budget cuts
Saturday, November 7, 2009
By JERRY WOLFFE
Of The Oakland Press
Of The Oakland Press
Gov. Jennifer Granholm has spared the $28 million funding for the Oakland County Michigan State University Extension program by not vetoing the appropriation.
Had the funding been cut, 3,000 jobs would have been eliminated and 14,000 Oakland County youths would be without the program’s many services, said Beverly Terry, the Oakland County MSU extension director.
It was feared Granholm would use her line-item veto power to halt funding for the program under pressure to cut spending since the state has a $1.8 billion deficit.
“Gov. Granholm has signed the higher education bill for fiscal year 2010, leaving the lineitem funding for the Michigan Agriculture Experiment Stations around the state and the MSU Extension programs intact,” said Tom Coon, director of MSU Extension.
“It is important to note that by signing this bill, (Michigan Agriculture Experiment Stations) and (MSU Extension) continue to be treated like the rest of Michigan’s higher education institutions,” he added.
Coon said it was “great news for all of us but more important news for those we serve — students, families, youths, business owners and entrepreneurs — all Michigan residents.”
Programs that were saved include:
• 68 community-based 4-H and 328 special program sites around Oakland County, serving 14,000 youths in the county and 230,000 statewide;
• 700 volunteer adults providing support and leadership worth more than $3.2 million annually;
• The Oakland County 4-H Proud Equestrian Program at the Bloomfield Open Hunt and Dennis Farm that for 37 years has provided youth with physical, mental and emotional disabilities with therapeutic horseback riding opportunities;
• The Pontiac Neighborhood Youth Initiative that provides positive youth development experiences daily in an after-school setting in three Pontiac neighborhoods;
• Youth Entrepreneurship 4-H Clubs, which help young people learn basic skills in business planning and operation;
• 4-H Clubs that focus on communication skills, performing arts, animal science, service and dozens of other projects that empower young people to find their strengths and express themselves while learning leadership, citizenship and responsibility;
• Service opportunities to give young people a sense that they are valued resources in the community;
• Programs that engage a diverse, multicultural audience from around the county and foster relationship building, understanding and acceptance of individual differences and an opportunity to work together for mutual goals;
• The 4-H Youth Leadership Institute, a comprehensive series of workshops that challenges high school students to apply their skills to community issues via meaningful youthdesigned service projects.
Had the funding been cut, 3,000 jobs would have been eliminated and 14,000 Oakland County youths would be without the program’s many services, said Beverly Terry, the Oakland County MSU extension director.
It was feared Granholm would use her line-item veto power to halt funding for the program under pressure to cut spending since the state has a $1.8 billion deficit.
“Gov. Granholm has signed the higher education bill for fiscal year 2010, leaving the lineitem funding for the Michigan Agriculture Experiment Stations around the state and the MSU Extension programs intact,” said Tom Coon, director of MSU Extension.
“It is important to note that by signing this bill, (Michigan Agriculture Experiment Stations) and (MSU Extension) continue to be treated like the rest of Michigan’s higher education institutions,” he added.
Coon said it was “great news for all of us but more important news for those we serve — students, families, youths, business owners and entrepreneurs — all Michigan residents.”
Programs that were saved include:
• 68 community-based 4-H and 328 special program sites around Oakland County, serving 14,000 youths in the county and 230,000 statewide;
• 700 volunteer adults providing support and leadership worth more than $3.2 million annually;
• The Oakland County 4-H Proud Equestrian Program at the Bloomfield Open Hunt and Dennis Farm that for 37 years has provided youth with physical, mental and emotional disabilities with therapeutic horseback riding opportunities;
• The Pontiac Neighborhood Youth Initiative that provides positive youth development experiences daily in an after-school setting in three Pontiac neighborhoods;
• Youth Entrepreneurship 4-H Clubs, which help young people learn basic skills in business planning and operation;
• 4-H Clubs that focus on communication skills, performing arts, animal science, service and dozens of other projects that empower young people to find their strengths and express themselves while learning leadership, citizenship and responsibility;
• Service opportunities to give young people a sense that they are valued resources in the community;
• Programs that engage a diverse, multicultural audience from around the county and foster relationship building, understanding and acceptance of individual differences and an opportunity to work together for mutual goals;
• The 4-H Youth Leadership Institute, a comprehensive series of workshops that challenges high school students to apply their skills to community issues via meaningful youthdesigned service projects.
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