Madison County funds $50,000 for support of U of I Extension Office

by Randy Pierce • Unanimous approval of a resolution by the Madison County Board at its regular monthly meeting held earlier this month will provide an annual support payment of $50,000, covering a period through June 30, 2026 to the University of Illinois Extension, which has an office at 900 Hillsboro Avenue in Edwardsville.

The impact of the extension’s work, according to its unit director, William Catalano, not only includes offering support to local area farmers involved in the agricultural industry but also helps with the development of various 4-H Club programs, members of which were recognized with a proclamation by County Board Chairman Chris Slusser at the same meeting while additionally focusing on food banks plus master gardener and master naturalist certifications.

“We’re in every school, we try to reach every partner and every collaborator,” Catalano said. “I can fully attest that we’re not the solution to any one problem, but we try to clear the gaps and make the connections to make problems in our community smaller.”

He further explained that for every dollar this region’s extension, which serves the counties of Madison, St. Clair and Monroe, receives from the county, the state organization contributes 85 cents to its operations.

Among the other areas of focus for the U of I Extension not previously mentioned are consumer economics, energy and the environment, family life, horticulture and nutrition.