• Safe, healthy and accessible food
• Clean water and a healthy environment
• Good nutrition and well-nourished residents
• Healthy youth who contribute to healthy communities
• An improved local economy
• 4-H Program
o 4-H is celebrating over 100 years of service offering an educational program to assist youth in their development.
• Agriculture
• Master Gardener
o Master Gardener volunteers provide information, problem solving expertise and educational opportunities about home gardening to Contra Costa County residents.
• Nutrition
o Bringing University resources and research-based information to individuals, families and youth to enhance their well-being.
• Urban Horticulture
o Current information on integrated pest management, non-point pollution reduction, green waste, urban forestry and the selection and care of horticultural plants is provided by the Urban Horticulture Program.
• Wood Durability
o Improving the long-term performance of wood and wood-based construction materials, bringing the gap between wood resources and human needs.
• Youth Development
o With the use of research, extension of knowledge and public service, we aim to work collaboratively with community and statewide partners to provide young people with the opportunity to develop the relationships and competencies they will need to become productive and contributing members of our community/society.
The UC Cooperative Extension’s programs benefit all cities and all citizens throughout the County. They pride themselves on delivering the most cost-effective programs in the most efficient manner by drawing upon experts from throughout the UC system, utilizing over 600 trained volunteers, and working cooperatively with over 150 diverse public and private agencies/organizations.
- More than 2/3 of Contra Costa County is in agriculture and open space. Agriculture brings in over $71 million directly and over $2.1 billion indirectly to our local economy. It assures county residents a safe and affordable local food supply. Our programs protect the County’s food supply and the local economy.
- Contra Costa has 1,300 miles of waterways. Over one-half of our residents obtain their drinking water directly from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta bordering our county. Our programs protect the County’s water supply.
- 253,468 Contra Costa residents are children ages 0-17 years who require leadership, citizenship and life skills in order to contribute to society as adults. Only 43.8% of Contra Costa youth that are old enough for college are college-ready. Our programs increase the number of youth ready for college and engaged as citizens.
- 59.5% of Contra Costa adults, especially those who are low-income, are overweight or obese with a disproportionate number from poverty. Overweight and obesity result in chronic disease and increased health costs passed on to governmental agencies and taxpayers. Our programs improve nutrition and reduce public health costs.
- 31% of county residents are food insecure; 33.4% of Contra Costa children are eligible for free or reduced lunch. Our programs improve food security for children and families.
- 60% of the pesticides that make their way into public waterways originate with Contra Costa homeowners and home gardeners. Our award winning programs reduce this pollution.
The U.C. Cooperative Extension - Contra Costa programs would not be funded beyond February 2010 and the county would lose approximately $3 million in U.C. funding, with benefits derived to the County through improvements to pest management, water quality, healthy communities, youth development, etc.