University of illinois extension serves as the university's statewide network for translational outreach and public engagement

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the University of Illinois $20.667 million under the Smith-Lever Extension Funding program (CFDA 10.511) on October 1, 2025.

University of Illinois Extension operates as the university's statewide network for translational outreach and public engagement. Capacity funds support personnel and infrastructure addressing five critical issues at the state and local level. Under Community Involvement, Leadership, and Vitality, the extension delivers statewide webinars and consultation with local government officials and community-level decision makers, trains and supports 4-H adult club volunteers to expand access to high-quality club experiences across rural and urban youth populations, and provides 4-H teen leader and volunteer training to build mentoring and leadership skills. Economic and Workforce Development activities include in-person and virtual direct education, indirect education via mass media and social media, expert consultation and community planning support, partnerships and coalition support, and decision-support tools for data-driven economic decision-making. Primary audiences include agricultural producers and their families, small business owners and managers, individuals seeking personal financial management resources, youth learning workforce entry skills, and professionals needing continuing education credits. Under Safe, Healthy Environments and Behaviors, the extension addresses prevention and management of chronic diseases, social and emotional health promotion, and integration of research and best management practices for health and safety, serving youth, professionals who influence healthy decision-making, older adults, and farmers and farm families.

Performance occurs in Urbana, Illinois from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2030. This is a formula grant to a 1862 land-grant institution.

Capacity funds are directed toward personnel and infrastructure to address five critical issues at the state and local level. 1)critical issue: community involvement, leadership, and vitality: activities include statewide webinars and consultation with local government officials and community-level decision makers, training and support of 4-h adult club volunteers to expand access to high-quality club experiences across rural and urban youth populations, and 4-h teen leader/volunteer training to build mentoring, and leadership skills. 2)critical issue: economic and workforce development: outreach focuses on key contributors to a strong economy e.g. increased economic vitality within illinois communities, increased workforce preparedness and advancement, and improved financial wellbeing. Activities include inperson and virtual direct education, indirect education via mass media, social media, and digitally delivered channels, expert consultation and community planning support, partnerships and coalition support, and decision-support tools and analysis for data driven economic decision making at all levels. Primary audiences include agricultural producers and their families, small business owners/managers, individuals seeking personal financial management resources, youth learning skills for workforce entry, and professionals needing continuing education credits. 3) critical issue: safe, healthy environments and behaviors: objectives include prevention and management of chronic diseases, social and emotional health promotion, and integration of research and best management practices for health and safety. Audiences include youth, professionals/impactors who can positively influence healthy decision making, older adults to enhance quality of life in a growing population, farmers and farm families to address the many stressors they face, and individuals prone to chronic diseases and related conditions to foster adoption and maintenance of health protective behaviors. 4) critical issue: effective agricultural production and food systems: activities include outreach for best management practices for row crop and livestock producers, food handlers, emergency food distribution sites, partnerships and coalition support for enhancing food systems, applied research and demonstration, efforts for access to nutritionally dense products in emergency food sites (e.g. through food donation gardens), and decision support tools that benefit both producers and consumers. 5) critical issue: thriving natural resources: extension activities will seek to enhance engagement with home and community landscapes and to preserve natural resources. In addition to locally developed programming that will address this critical issue, master gardener and master naturalist core volunteer training and continuing education will enable expanded outreach to communities throughout the state. Novice and expert gardeners can access statewide resources like the monthly four seasons gardening webinar series and regularly updated blog series. Residents of all ages will benefit from programs focused on actions for environmental protection like pollinator support, identification of invasive species, and citizen science. 4-h statewide programs will offer outdoor activities including state 4-h camp, fishing, and shooting sports.