University of Missouri Extension
Public Value Statements for Legislative Day
Community Development:
Community Emergency Management

When you support MU Extension's Community Emergency Management Program,
communities, businesses, schools and residents reduce a community's disaster recovery
period. This action saves lives and countless dollars in emergency recovery operations
and avoids job loss. Additionally, the whole community builds a greater sense of
cohesion.
Community Planning

When you support MU Extension community planning programs, citizens determine
what is best for their community. The planning process results in buy-in from the
community, adoption of policies, implementation of plans, sound proposals put before
voters, and increased economic activity. Communities benefit from wise use of public
and private resources.
Business Development:
Small Business and Technology Development Centers

When you support MU Extension’s Small Business and Technology Development
Centers, small technology-oriented, research-based firms focus on innovative
development and commercialization of new products and services. This strengthens the
technological competitiveness of Missouri's businesses for the betterment of our state and
nation.

When you support MU Extension’s Business Development Program, enterprising
Missourians receive information and training to successfully start, run and expand
businesses. This increased business activity creates jobs, increases consumer demand,
promotes economic development and generates tax revenue for the public’s welfare.
Agriculture and Natural Resources:
Watershed Festivals

When you support MU Extension’s Watershed Festival program, Missouri citizens
recognize the value of water protection and learn how they can make a difference in
water quality and quantity. Participants become more active in litter prevention, stream
clean-up and water conservation. The local community and everyone downstream
benefits from a clean, healthy and adequate drinking water supply.
Value-Added Agriculture

When you support MU Extension’s Value Added Agriculture program, participants
form producer-owned businesses, which allows them to create something new or
compete in an existing agricultural sector business. Producers then enjoy increased
commodity prices, and other community members benefit from an increased flow of
money in the community.
Continuing Education:
High School

When you support MU High School, fewer Missouri students drop out of school and
more qualify to apply for colleges. As a result, Missouri’s high schools enjoy a higher
student graduation rate. Increases in graduation rates benefit Missouri communities by
broadening young people’s career and educational alternatives and their subsequent
chances for success.
Bachelor of Liberal Studies Degree Completion Program

When you support MU Extension’s Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree program -offered through MU’s Center for Distance and Independent Study -- place-bound adults
seek an undergraduate degree that increases their capacities for advancement and
leadership. Communities benefit because these adults put their degrees to work in their
home communities.
Human Environmental Sciences:
Family Financial Education

When you support MU Extension’s Financial Education Programs, participants spend
and borrow responsibly, save more and gain control over their financial health. These
behaviors benefit other community members by reducing predatory lending, reliance on
public assistance programs and crime.
Nutritional Sciences

When you support MU Extension’s Stay Strong, Stay Healthy program, participants
increase their physical activity. This behavior change leads to reduced risk of falls, heart
disease and osteoporosis; decreased stress; and improved weight control and overall
quality of life. These health benefits decrease the likelihood of a participant entering a
nursing home, which costs on average $24,455 per year in Missouri. The money saved
benefits others by providing more discretionary income to keep in circulation within the
community.
4-H Youth Development:
4-H Grows Future Scientists

4-H project work helps youth explore interests from animal science to aerospace,
resulting in increased interest in science at a rate three times that of non-4-H peers.
Interest in science is a predictor for young people to choose science-related careers. This
interest in science, along with 4-H members’ 70 percent greater likelihood to go to
college than youth participating in other out-of-school programs, is helping grow future
scientists. Future scientists are critical to our state, national and global economy; threequarters of Missouri’s $10.6 billion in products and services exported in 2005 were
science, engineering and technology-based industries [Lerner and Lerner, Wave 6;
MERIC].
4-H LIFE

By supporting University of Missouri Extension’s 4-H LIFE program, children of
offenders make healthier choices and get along better with others, thus saving taxpayers
$56,885* per child by breaking the tough cycle of intergenerational incarceration. The
4-H LIFE Program served 326 youth and their families in 2008 for a projected savings
of $18,544,510.
*Includes $16,690 in juvenile delinquency costs and $40,195 adult crime costs. Source:
Small and O’Connor, 2007.
April 13, 2009