WSU Extension launches regionalization pilot project

Washington State University Extension has tentatively chosen two pilot regions for a new regionalization approach aimed at strengthening long-term county Extension services. Those two regions are in Northeast Washington and Southwest Washington.

The pilot project areas, comprised of several counties in each region, will test how shared administrative functions and improved coordination can support staff, enhance programs, and ensure sustainability in rural communities.

"Local needs and identity remain at the center of this work," said WSU Extension Director and Associate Dean Vicki McCracken. "We will continue to work closely with county staff and community partners to understand local priorities, assess program capacity, and identify opportunities to strengthen services."

The pilot project areas will test how shared administrative functions and improved coordination can support staff, enhance programs, and ensure sustainability in rural communities.

WSU Extension and Washington's counties operate in a long-standing cooperative partnership in which the university provides research-based expertise and programming, while counties provide essential local support and connection to community needs. Extension offices can be found in all 39 of the state's counties and on the Colville reservation.

A key early step in the pilot project will be selecting regional directors, who will oversee administrative functions across the counties in that region. The new role is designed to reduce administrative burdens on educators, improve cross-county collaboration, and support local priorities without impacting county budgets.

Staffing changes may occur as the pilot takes shape, and WSU has acknowledged that understanding these realities is a core purpose of the initiative. Throughout the pilot, the university plans to gather community input, monitor what is working, and adjust the model as challenges surface.

WSU has been openly discussing the potential project with its county partners and recently sent letters to all county commissioners explaining the project.

"Ultimately," said Associate Extension Director Mike Gaffney, "the regionalization pilot aims to ensure that Extension programs remain strong, responsive, and well-supported in meeting the needs of residents."