Carson City residents are asked to weigh in on the future of the University of Reno, Extension office’s goals and operations in the capital city.
The Extension is asking residents to weigh in through a needs assessment survey that officials say will help shape what the program prioritizes next, from children’s opportunities, to wildfire preparedness and workforce training. And in return, you could win a $50 gift card!
Adam Carpenter, the Extension county coordinator for Carson City and Storey County, said the survey is meant to pinpoint where locals most need research-based information and services from the university and to identify gaps in awareness about what Extension offers.
“The needs assessment is important for the Extension program, because it will help guide our efforts to meet the community to where they need it most,” Carpenter said. He said the feedback will help the office find “new avenues to share our research and information from the university with each community” and could also influence how Extension adapts its research focus to match community concerns.
Carpenter said the timing reflects how quickly Northern Nevada has changed, and how Extension’s mission has broadened beyond its early emphasis on helping farmers.
“Extension has existed through the University of Nevada for more than 100 years, as a means originally to help the state’s farmers,” Carpenter said. While agriculture remains a major part of the program, he said Extension has a core responsibility to respond to shifting needs across the state.
“As Nevada has seen a drastic population increase in the last quarter of a century or so, the goals of Extension must expand in much of the same way,” he said, citing the growth of urban centers, increased tourism and technological advances as forces reshaping community needs.
Carpenter pointed to both new initiatives and long-running programs as examples of that shift. He said Extension is expanding its work, including a workforce development program the organization hopes to roll out statewide early next year. He also highlighted Living With Fire, an established Extension program focused on helping communities prepare for a growing wildfire threat.
Still, Carpenter said local input is essential for deciding what comes next, including whether the community wants more support related to mental or physical health, programs for youth or seniors, or health and nutrition education.
“Many people within our communities also may not have had any experience with Extension, and we also hope to increase our visibility within these communities so that people know where to find us and tell us how we can better serve them,” he said.
Carpenter said one area Extension is specifically asking about is childcare and children’s programming, which he framed as part of the agency’s broader educational mission.
“Extension is interested in childcare and children’s programming because we know what a critical tool educational programming can be for the development of children,” Carpenter said. He said that could include more STEM opportunities for students through school programs or science camps, as well as helping parents connect with information and resources.
He noted that Extension’s youth work has long been associated with 4-H, and said the office is interested in expanding into other areas that may better fit what families in a fast-changing Carson City area are looking for.
“With Northern Nevada and the Carson City community growing and changing rapidly, we want to know what areas of focus are important to parents when it comes to education and opportunities for their children,” Carpenter said.
If the survey shows strong demand for childcare-related programming, Carpenter said the next step would be a deliberate planning and partnership process rather than a one-size-fits-all rollout.
“Once we get the results from the needs assessment survey, we’ll spend some time combing through the data to figure out what the greatest needs of the community are,” Carpenter said. From there, he said the office would work with community members and leaders to design programs and determine the best ways to implement them.
Carpenter said Extension could pursue grants, build partnerships and use the university’s reach to support whatever priorities rise to the top.
“We can seek out grants and find partners to work with, and capitalize on the extensive reach of the university to help make our community a better place,” he said.
To take the needs assessment survey, click here, or scan the QR code below.
