Cooperative Extension’s Community and Economic Development programs provide citizens, businesses, local governments, and organizations with the education and information they need to make effective decisions. The premise of these programming efforts is that a well informed citizenry and leadership is the key to the long term well-being and quality of life of all those in our communities.

Toward this end, field-based educators work closely with Penn State faculty and others to support a diverse menu of community and economic development programs.

These educational programs are designed to be flexible enough to meet the diverse needs of our communities, while maintaining a high standard of quality, professionalism, and objectivity. Because our communities’ needs are constantly changing, Cooperative Extension also works closely with a number of advisory groups, organizations, and individuals to assess and prioritize which programs should be given the greatest emphasis each year for the residents of the County.