Franklin/UF – IFAS Extension Program 28 Airport Road Apalachicola, FL Franklin County Extension Looking Towards the Future Northwest Extension District Franklin/UF – IFAS Extension Program 28 Airport Road Apalachicola, FL

Office Faculty & Staff Bill Mahan, CED/Sea Grant Gene Shaner, Multi-County FYN (Bay, Franklin & Gulf) Christy Duncan, Office Manager Cherry Rankin, FNP Program Assistant

Office Budget & Grants County Budget 2003 - $49,927 Proposed 2004 - $54,544 Family Nutrition Program 2003 - $32,755 Three USDA CSREES Grants CLAMMERS - $75,383 Oyster PHT - $374,501 Regional Oyster Safety Issues - $417,923

County Demographics Total Population (2000) - 11,057 56.5% ♂, 43.5% ♀ 81% White, 16.6% Black, 0.5% Native Am. 18% less than 18 years old 15.7% 65 years old or older 23.3% population change 1990 – 2000 Number of Households – 4,096 # of families 2,725 Median Household Income - $25,799 4th lowest in state, 74% of FL avg. $34,757 State area of Critical Economic Concern

Demographics, continued 18.4% of population lives below poverty level – state avg. 13.6% 13.9% of seniors living below poverty level 23.2% of children living below poverty level 66.3% of young children (< 5) in female-headed households live below poverty level 80% of school children, free/reduced meals 41% functional illiteracy rate in county (27% lowest level) - 10% FL avg.

County Demographics There are approximately 100 births/year to Franklin County residents (all out of county) 35.1% of births to unwed mothers 21% of total born to “teen” moms (one 10 - 14 yrs.) 201 Grandparents live with grandchildren, 72% are raising their grandchildren 50 – 70% of the workforce is employed by the seafood industry 1000 licensed oystermen, 991 commercial boats & $11.2 million dockside value (6.1% FL)

Demographics, continued School Enrollment – 1,501 (K – 12) 31.7% of population 25+ years old with no H.S. diploma - (20.1% FL) 68.3% of population 25+ years old with H.S. diploma (+) - (79.9% FL) 16.2% some college or Associate (3.3%) 12.4% of population with Bachelor’s or higher – (22.3% FL)

Visioning Sessions Report Board of County Commissioners Continue assistance with technical issues related to management of natural resources and the bay Continue work with the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference & FDACS Continue work with the seafood industry Continue to work with developing clam industry Water access issues (i.e. boat ramps) Assistance with fishing piers and artificial reefs

Visioning Sessions Report State & Local Agencies Programs for seniors, e.g. budgeting, diet, health management Teen parenting, parenting, child development, expand nutrition program, household budgeting programs, home buyer education Work with Health Department on “preventive” health & nutrition education i.e. obesity, juvenile diabetes Community development & planning assistance Continue nutrition education programming

Visioning Sessions Report Seafood Industry Continue work on Vv illness reduction & ISSC Continue work as liaison between industry, County Commissioners, & regulators Continue assistance with regulatory compliance issues Continue to assist developing clam aquaculture industry Boater access & recreational boater education in Alligator Harbor

Visioning Sessions Report Schools Continue 4-H/Tropicana Public Speaking Program Expand public speaking to other grades Continue Butterfly Development Program Continue nutrition education program Look for new educational opportunities for teachers & students Explore additional 4-H opportunities for school & after school activities

Visioning Sessions Report General Public/Homeowners Continue newspaper column Offer more homeowner education “classes” Provide homeowner budgeting and parenting classes Expand programming for senior citizens Expand public speaking program to include older students Work more with city governments

Visioning Sessions Report Florida Sea Grant Fish Extension (Commercial & Recreational) Coastal Hazards Education SEACOOS – SE Atlantic Coastal Observation System COSEE – Center for Ocean Science Educational Excellence Aquatic Nuisance Species

County Major Program Areas CMP 300 – Marine Industries of Franklin County CMP 301 – Youth & 4-H Development in Franklin County CMP 302 – Adult Environmental Education in Franklin County CMP 999 – Extension Program Administration in Franklin County CMP FYN – BFG 1 & BFG 2 - FYN in Franklin County

Marine Industries of Franklin County Major Priority Areas Vibrio vulnificus education & oyster PHT development & education Development of clam aquaculture industry Government/Regulatory/Industry liaison Long Range Goals Reduced Vv illness rate & viable PHT options for oyster processors Establishment of the local clam aquaculture industry The “smooth” implementation of new regulations

4H & Youth Development in Franklin County Major Priority Areas 4-H/Tropicana Public Speaking Program Butterfly Development Program Family Nutrition Program 4-H Camp Long Range Goals Continue & expand school enrichment programs Look for new programming opportunities

Adult Environmental Education Major Priority Areas Continue writing “weekly” newspaper column Increase the # of “homeowner” programs Continue one-on-one consultations Long Range Goals Increase “public’s” environmental protection knowledge Continue newspaper column, expand into “The Chronicle” Increase the # of programs offered for homeowners

Extension Program Administration Major Priority Areas Maintain excellent working relationship with local officials Continue marketing the total “UF/IFAS Package” Seek & obtain outside funding & partnerships to maintain/expand programming efforts Long Range Goals Secure FCS Agent for County Increase funding & program offerings Maintain & expand “reach” of programming effort

Multi-State Programming Efforts Major Priority Areas Vv education, PHT development & technical assistance for the Gulf oyster industry (ISSC, LA SG) Shrimp Industry Workshops (with TX Sea Grant) Tri-State Natural Resource Program Implementation Team (with AL & GA Extension) Long Range Goals Reduction in Vv illness rate, maintain oyster industry Survival of the commercial shrimp fishing Increased coordination of NR Extension Programs

Integrated Programming Efforts Major Priority Areas Advancing PHT capacity for FL oysters Complying with federal mandates for oyster safety Clam lease assessment, management & modeling Long Range Goals Development of economically viable PHT options for the FL oyster industry Complying with federal regulatory mandates Establishment of Northwest FL clam aquaculture industry

Needs to Accomplish Plans County Continued budget & special travel support for programming efforts & special initiatives Support for County’s share of FCS Agent Position Increased office space

Needs to Accomplish Plans Northwest District Travel support for special initiatives Support of FCS Agent position Community Development, Water Quality/Management “Issues,” & Coastal Zone Management Specialist assistance

Needs to Accomplish Plans State Continued travel support for special initiatives Support for State’s share of FCS Agent position FAMU Extension involvement? Community Development, Water Quality & Management “Issues,” & Coastal Zone Management Specialist assistance

Program Summary The Franklin/UF-IFAS Extension Program is alive and well. We currently have more work then we can handle and have requests for new and expanded programs. We are in desperate need of an FCS Agent to handle a broad range of educational programming needs. We will need lots of help to deal with variety of water and coastal development issues

Bill Mahan, CED/Sea Grant Agent 30 June 2003 Thank you! Franklin/UF-IFAS Extension Program Northwest Extension District Bill Mahan, CED/Sea Grant Agent 30 June 2003