Programmatic Goals and Objectives

 

Community Resources and Economic Development

Goal 1: Texas communities gain knowledge supporting design and implementation of successful development strategies.

 

Statement of Support: Clientele and faculty identified need to develop and maintain sustainable communities, using appropriate community and economic development programs in dynamic social and economic environments while considering regional competitive advantages.

 

Objective 1: Provide educational opportunities for communities and individuals to become knowledgeable in ways and means of developing and supporting local businesses.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Develop and conduct entrepreneurship and e-commerce educational programs.

2007–2012: At least 50% of the counties identifying business development as a priority issue will conduct related educational programs in 2007; and 80% by 2008.

 

2007–2012: Knowledge and skills of program participants increase by 20%.

 

Objective 2: Develop additional resources to support the building of community capacity.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Integrate resources of the Texas Rural Community College Network with Extension educational programs.

2007 - 2012:  Provide joint educational and/or applied Extension programs in the area of community resources and economic development with members of the Texas Community College Rural Community Development Consortium.

2007 - 2012:  Work directly with the community college representatives to identify and develop the most appropriate educational and/or applied Extension programs in community resources and economic development.

2008:  Joint educational and/or applied Extension programs in community resources and economic development will be initiated with at least 50% of the member colleges.

 

2009:  Joint educational and/or applied Extension programs in community resources and economic development will be initiated with the remaining 50% of the member colleges.

2010 - 2012:  Provide updated educational programs with community colleges and provide oversight on applied programs with member colleges.

 

Objective 3: Develop and conduct professional development programs for county and specialist faculty so they can support business development activities in Texas communities.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Provide educational opportunities for county Extension agents and specialists to become knowledgeable in developing and supporting business development.

2007: In at least 50% of counties identifying business development as a priority issue, agents have an opportunity to receive related training in business development and program planning.

 

2008: In all counties identifying business development as a priority issue, agents have had access to training.

Provide educational opportunities for member institutions of The Texas Community College Rural Community Development Consortium.

2008–2012: Conduct joint professional development activities in area of CRED for community colleges.

Table of Contents
Index of Programmatic Goals and Objectives

 

Community Resources and Economic Development

Goal 2: Nature Tourism – Community officials and businesses will evaluate nature tourism resources, facilities, and programs as part of their operations and development planning.

 

Statement of Support: Local communities do not have the knowledge and/or resources to capitalize on potential growth in the tourism industry, as well as alternative enterprises and income diversification that also could prevent habitat degradation or loss.

 

Objective 1: Producers and landowners meet their multiple goals by managing wildlife and fisheries resources and developing wildlife-related enterprises, such as nature-based tourism.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Expand educational programming directed at wildlife and fisheries enterprise development and nature-based tourism.

2007–2012: Twenty percent of landowners attending educational programs adopt use of best management practices.

Develop and expand Web delivery of marketing strategies for nature-based tourism, including an online course.

2007: Evaluate usage of Web delivery and modify as needed.


Conduct nature tourism demonstration at La Copita Ranch.

2007: Offer on-site demonstration program each year on nature tourism operations management.

 

Objective 2: Land/business owners/managers and related community support networks maximize the economic potential of nature tourism through educational programs and demonstrations.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Provide educational opportunities for land/business owners/managers and related community support networks to maximize the economic potential of nature tourism.

2007–2008: fifty percent of communities where tourism is identified as a critical issue receive economic development educational programs addressing nature tourism as a strategy in 2007 and 75% by 2008.

 

2008: Knowledge and skills of program participants increase by 20% as assessed by program evaluations.


Provide educational opportunities for community officials and businesses in nature tourism development and planning.

2007–2011: Communities where economic development has been identified as an important issue will be offered training.

 

Objective 3: Develop and conduct professional development programs supporting development of nature tourism in Texas communities.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Provide educational opportunities for county Extension agents to become knowledgeable in developing and supporting nature tourism educational programs.

2007: Agents in 70% of counties identifying nature tourism as a priority issue have an opportunity to receive related training.

 

2008: Agents in 80% of counties with related programs are able to integrate and interpret specific educational programs associated with wildlife, water, range, and other areas as they pertain to nature tourism development.

 

Objective 4: Establish educational programs that facilitate the development of community recreation and park resources.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Develop publications and resource materials.

2007–2009: Complete five fact sheets annually.

 

2010–2012: Complete two fact sheets annually.

Provide professional development workshops.

2007–2012: Provide two yearly workshops at different urban areas in Texas. Evaluation results will reveal increases in knowledge and skills associated with issues related to park and recreation delivery.

Make available Web-based materials.

2007: Make available publications and resource materials on existing Recreation, Parks and Tourism Web site.

 

Objective 5: Promote event management educational programs supporting festivals, fairs and events.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Annually offer the Texas Event Leadership Program (TELP) workshop to provide educational programs to support community festivals, fairs, and events.

2007–2012: Conduct annual workshop. Seventy-five percent of participants will change their approach to festivals, fairs, and events.

Develop an advanced curriculum for TELP.

2007: Implement the curriculum.

 

2008–2012: Continue to implement existing training and create at least two additional modules for advanced sessions.


Provide education for county Extension agents to become knowledgeable about event management.

2007: Provide training in two Extension regions.

 

2008: Provide training in two Extension regions.

 

2009–2012: Provide training in four Extension regions.

Table of Contents
Index of Programmatic Goals and Objectives

 

Community Resources and Economic Development

Goal 3: Texas youth and adults will be prepared to participate fully in the 21st century workforce.

 

Statement of Support: Finding and sustaining employment (equipping citizens with job/life skills training to acquire and keep jobs) and preparing the future workforce (today’s youth) for employment have been identified as high-priority issues through the Texas Community Futures Forum and Extension Data Summits. Also supports Youth Goal 1 and Family and Consumer Sciences Goal 2.

 

Objective 1: Develop and conduct educational programs supporting the development of the Texas workforce in communities throughout the state to include job training, life skills, job retention skills, mentoring and apprenticeship, communication and interpersonal skills, and technological skills.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Provide educational opportunities for county Extension agents and specialists to become knowledgeable in developing and delivering educational programs enhancing the youth and adult workforce.

2007: In 60% of the counties identifying workforce as a critical issue, agents have the opportunity to receive related training.

 

2008: In 80% of counties with workforce economic development as a critical issue, agents are able to integrate and interpret specific educational programs associated with workforce development.

Provide educational opportunities for youth and adults to participate in educational programs enhancing all aspects of workforce development.

2008: At least 50% of counties identifying workforce as a critical issue conduct related educational programs.

 

2007–2012: Knowledge and skills of program participants show an increase of 20% as measured by program assessments.

 

Objective 2: Identify and develop additional resources supporting workforce economic development in Texas communities.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Collaborative educational outreach enhancing the workforce will be developed with 19 rural community colleges.

2007: Training conducted for rural community college staff.

 

2008: Training results in collaborative educational efforts in at least 20% of the counties in their service area.

 

2009: Training results in collaborative educational efforts in at least 40% of the counties in their service area.

Community-focused efforts will combine relevant local resources (workforce boards, secondary educational institutions, chambers of commerce, employers, Extension, etc.) in educational programs promoting retention and expansion of existing businesses through workforce development.

2007: Statewide training developed by subject-matter departments and program units from this experience and delivered by regional leadership teams reaching at least 25% of counties where this is a high-priority issue.

 

2009: Knowledge and skills of individual participants increase by 20%, and employment/income levels of communities, as documented by assessments, increase by 5%.

Table of Contents
Index of Programmatic Goals and Objectives

 

Community Resources and Economic Development

Goal 4: Community Leadership – Present and potential leaders will increase knowledge and abilities needed to effectively support the development of their communities.

 

Statement of Support: Communities must be prepared to build on local strengths and partner with others to continue community livelihood. One focus of this preparation is to identify and educate constituents on leadership traits that will in turn prepare them for local leadership roles in rural communities.

 

Objective 1: Establish a community leadership educational program (e.g., Building Connections: Community Leadership Program).

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Statewide implementation of Building Connections: Community Leadership Program.

2007: Thirty counties implement the Building Connections: Community Leadership Program.

 

2008-2012: Maintain at least 20 counties implementing the Building Connections: Community Leadership Program.

 

2009: Long-term evaluation results reveal application changes in participants based on follow-up evaluation strategies built into the curriculum. Also, new leadership roles of participants will be measured after the program.

 

Objective 2: Meet the educational needs of county officials by providing training programs and published reference materials.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Develop and conduct continuing education conferences and seminars for county judges and commissioners, county and district clerks, treasurers, and tax assessor-collectors.

2007–2012: Conduct conferences annually for four different associations. Effectiveness of program measured by number of continuing education unit (CEU) credits given.

Conduct courses from Curriculum 2000, an advanced certification program entitled: County Advanced Curriculum.

2007–2012: Conduct at least one state and one regional conference annually.

Implement the Commissioners Court Leadership Academy, an advanced leadership development educational program.

2007: Select participants for second class. Conduct first two seminars.

 

2008: Conduct third and fourth seminars for second class.

 

Objective 3: Implement the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership (TALL) program to future Texas leaders so that our food and fiber system is preserved and enhanced. .

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Conduct TALL Program to selected future Texas leaders in the agricultural and fiber system.

2007–2008: Conduct conferences throughout these two years and complete the program with participant graduation in 2008.

 

2009: Develop TALL XI.

 

2009 -2012: Conduct at least three conferences per year with the TALL XI Class.

Conduct SALE-LE Program to selected future Texas Cooperative Extension leaders.

2007: Complete Class VII of SALE:LE.

 

2007: Select SALE-LE Class VIII.

 

2008 -2012: Conduct at least two conferences per year with the SALE-LE Classes VIII and IX.

Implement the Commissioners Court Leadership Academy, an advanced leadership development educational program.

2007: Select participants for second class. Conduct first two seminars.

 

2008: Conduct third and fourth seminars for second class.

 Table of Contents
Index of Programmatic Goals and Objectives

 

Community Resources and Economic Development

Goal 5: County Extension agents will increase their ability to support educational programs in community economic development.

 

Statement of Support: Texas Community Futures Forum, Extension Data Summits, and County Officials Survey dictate that county Extension agents need to be more knowledgeable of concepts and programs in community economic development.

 

Objective 1: Provide entry-level training in the fundamentals of community resources and economic development. (Extension education that is easily accessible and relevant to all county Extension agents.)

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Reengineer CD 101 using Microsoft Producer to enhance learning and participation in support of existing video and publications.

2008: Reengineering completed by October.

 

2008: Resulting product pilot tested by January and access ensured to all new county Extension agents for training, in addition to other interested county Extension agents, both self-selected and identified by mid-management.

 

2009: Modified as needed and made available statewide by spring 2008.

 

Objective 2: Provide intermediate community and economic development training for county Extension agents.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Ensure participation in national and Southern regional trainings.

2007–2012: County Extension agents and specialist team attend regional trainings, as available.

 

Objective 3: Extension will provide multi-district and regional training on selected topics.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Conduct at least two regional trainings in entrepreneurship, e-commerce and/or community economic development as identified by regional leadership teams.

2008: Two regional training events developed and conducted for county Extension agents.

 

Objective 4: Provide advanced community and economic development training to selected county Extension agents.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Conduct Texas CD Institute at least biennially.

2008: Advanced training conducted for at least ten county Extension agents.

Identify online Master’s Degree programs suitable for county Extension agents in Community Resources and Economic Development (CRED).

2007: Work with institutions to modify curriculum to meet applied needs in CRED.

Table of Contents
Index of Programmatic Goals and Objectives

 

Community Resources and Economic Development

Goal 6: Texans and their communities become more resilient by effectively preparing for and recovering from disasters.

 

Statement of Support: Because Texas is the “Land of Contrast,” a year does not pass without some areas of the state facing some type of disaster. Recently, it has been drought, wildfires, Hurricane Rita, and flooding in El Paso. Responsibility for emergency management is under the jurisdiction of the county judge and mayors of towns and cities. Texas Cooperative Extension has a definite role to play in assisting local leaders and elected officials with education prior to and during recovery from disasters.

 

Objective 1: Extension faculty receives professional development training needed to support educational programs in emergency management and disaster preparedness.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Develop professional development on-line opportunity in Emergency Management for new employees.

2007: - Online developed and posted on Texas EDEN web site.

 

2007: Train-the-Trainers Emergency Management in Animal Disasters Curricular Modules for Educators developed and implemented through an online interactive course system that provides text and slide and video presentations.

Require Extension faculty to complete the online NIMS-700 course on emergency management.

2007–2012: Sustain ninety percent of new County Extension Agents complete NIMS-700 course online.

Provide resource handbooks and curriculum materials to Extension faculty to facilitate professional development and dissemination to families and communities.

2007–2012: Maintain Texas’ Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) Web site for use by faculty and the public.

Provide training for County Extension Agents on how to utilize the Incident Resource Team resources on Texas EDEN.

2007: Incident Resource Teams provide links to disaster related materials for the various incidents.  Links to resources will be posted on Texas EDEN web site (both public and agent only pages).

Develop framework for all county offices to prepare a disaster preparedness plan for their office.

2007–2012: Ninety percent of county offices verify they have reviewed their emergency management plan and have conducted at least one exercise per year.

 

2007: 90% of Texas Cooperative Extension Department and Unit Offices have developed their emergency management plan.

 

Objective 2: Families, animal owners, and businesses become more knowledgeable relative to disaster preparedness and emergency management.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

County Extension agents offer to assist county emergency management coordinators in developing an animal issues committee and animal issues plan for disasters.

2007: 80% of Texas Cooperative Offices will assist EMC to establish animal issues committees and develop animal issues plans.

 

2007–2012: County Extension agent works with county animal issues committee to review and update annually animal issues.

Information on ReadyBusiness.gov is provided to local businesses.

2007: Mass media utilized to encourage businesses to develop contingency plans for potential disasters by 40% of counties.

Survey program participants to determine effectiveness of programs.

2007: Determine how many families feel like they are better prepared.

 

2007: Determine the total number of schools that have been reached and determine the number of schools have adopted PTP curriculum.

Table of Contents
Index of Programmatic Goals and Objectives

 

Community Resources and Economic Development

Goal 7: To support communities and organizations across Texas who produce events.

 

Statement of Support: There is a need to provide professional development training to present & future event managers and planners.

 

Objective 1: To provide professional development training to present and future event managers and planners on event development and hospitality.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Plan and produce a Texas Event Leadership Program Workshop annually.

2007-2012: Implement an annual Texas Event Leadership Program Workshop and measure satisfaction and outcomes.

To provide customer service skills to all Texans in the hospitality industry.

2007-2012: Provide Texas Friendly Hospitality training to Texas communities by contacting trained Hospitality instructors as requested.

 

2007-2012: Implement one Train the Trainer Hospitality Instructor Workshop per year.

Table of Contents
Index of Programmatic Goals and Objectives

 

Community Resources and Economic Development

Goal 8: Coastal communities are empowered to choose sustainable paths that maximize both community quality of life and quality of the environment.

 

Statement of Support: Coastal communities are experiencing unprecedented growth, which in many cases could disrupt quality of life and the environment. Local citizens need information in order to make decisions and choices consistent with their values.

Objective 1: To educate local officials and citizens on the importance of coastal environments.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Develop educational programs and resources fro coastal communities focused on enhancing quality of life and the environment.

2007-2012: Implement educational opportunities through workshops and symposia for local officials and citizens of coastal communities.

 

2007-2012: Produce brochures and web materials.

 

2007-2012: Hold at least cone exercise on design and visioning charrettes with selected communities.

 

Objective 2: Develop watershed partnerships in coastal watershed counties to more effectively manage natural resources demands holistic cross-jurisdictional, cross-disciplinary management.

Strategy

Timeline/Measure(s)

Establish water partnerships.

2007-2012: Establish at least one watershed partnership in areas where none currently exist.

Table of Contents
Index of Programmatic Goals and Objectives

________________________________

Contact:

Edward G. Smith

Director

Texas Cooperative Extension

112 Jack K. Williams Administration Building

7101 TAMU

College Station, TX 77843-7101

Ph: 979-845-7967

Fax: 979-845-9542

September 2007