Cultivating Success in New Hampshire
ENGAGE
Cheshire County and the University of New Hampshire (UNH) provide resources that support Cheshire County citizens, enhance their quality of life and improve the local economy.
- 5 employees in Cheshire County office
- 51 staff providing assistance from outside the county
EMPOWER
187 volunteers worked 20,046 hours in Cheshire County communities.
- Value of Volunteer Time: $483,910
VALUE
In 2017, for every $1 Cheshire County contributed, UNH provided $2.45 of statewide resources.
- County provided $166,930 to Cheshire Extension
- UNH provided* $408,991 to Cheshire Extension
* Includes funding from federal, state and other non-county resources, including funding for staff based outside the county who conduct programs in the county.
Select County Impacts
- 20 community leaders gained knowledge and skills
- 108 citizens utilized the Information Line
- 64 farms received technical assistance
- 136 soil test recommendations informed crop management decisions
- 9,495 acres improved
- 7 communities assited with resource stewardship
- 102 woodlot owners advised
- 247 local educators and 4-H volunteers trained in STEM, healthy living & youth development
- 2,231 kids and adults participated in 4-H and other educational programs for youth
The University of New Hampshire is an equal opportunity educator and employer. University of New Hampshire, U.S. Department of Agriculture and N.H. counties cooperating.
Statewide Highlights 2017
Extension is at work in every New Hampshire county, strengthening key industries, developing vibrant communities, engaging citizens, fostering healthy families and stewarding healthy natural resources.
Community & Economic Development
- Collaborated with 23 communities on downtown revitalization, economic development, Main Street improvement and linking trails and downtowns.
- Helped N.H. towns address economic development opportunities by engaging local government, businesses, agencies and citizens in finding ways to collaborate on sustaining and growing jobs, and leveraging local assets.
- 27 economic development leaders, chamber of commerce directors and municipal planners participated in the Economic Development Academy, deepening their community development skills.
Food & Agriculture
- Cultivated farm business management skills through training in business planning, finance, marketing and agricultural law.
- 171 commercial workers were certified in safe and effective use of pesticides, resulting in reduced expenses in materials, labor and reduced exposure by workers to agricultural chemicals.
- 385 restaurants, institutions and farms received training from food safety specialists in sanitary food handling and preparation — making local food industries safe and sustainable.
Natural Resources
- Provided science-based advice on land management and stewardship practices to landowners, communities and state agencies.
- 3,000 Natural Resources volunteers provided more than 44,000 hours of service to communities. They enhanced wildlife habitats, removed invasive species, protected against coastal erosion, and monitored lake water quality.
- Recommendations from county foresters resulted in $440,000 in additional revenue for landowners, $1.2m additional total production value and nearly $44,000 in additional tax revenue for municipalities this fiscal year.
UNH Professional Development & Training
- A network of 200 instructors helped workers accelerate their careers through licensure renewal, job placement, and professional development.
- Trained professionals in rapidly developing workforce areas like education, business, leadership, technology, natural resources, drone operation for first responders, craft brewing, social work and stormwater management.
- Partnered with municipalities and state agencies to invest in workforce development, including advanced leadership training with first responders in Manchester.
Youth & Family
- Provided training for 1,215 educators, parents, and other caregivers to promote child, youth and family resiliency knowledge and skills. This included Youth Mental Health First Aid training for 155 adults which involves a 5 step action plan offering initial help for young people showing signs of a mental health challenge or crisis.
- 63 youth were elected to 10 county youth leadership teams. Teen leaders reported increased skills in decision-making, goal-setting and communication, helping them grow into tomorrow’s leaders.
- Invested in tomorrow’s STEM* workforce by training 428 educators in STEM education best practices, content knowledge, and alignment with Next Generation Science Standards.
* STEM Science, Technology, Engieneering and Math
