[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6342458,"mediaKeyId","2254904-03ce722afdda58d8e2e92cbe8afc7733","parentId",2254904,"title","University of Idaho officials highlight research, extension reach and new facilities in JFAC budget hearing","audioSeconds",1375,"startMs",2424000,"endMs",3799000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2254904-03ce722afdda58d8e2e92cbe8afc7733&start=2424&end=3799","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2254904-03ce722afdda58d8e2e92cbe8afc7733/thumbnail_2424000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6342458/Idaho/University-of-Idaho-officials-highlight-research-extension-reach-and-new-facilities-in-JFAC-budget-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342458-fddfed86fd90e4ec52fc23ede1d32c86/orig.mp4?Expires=1771034157&Signature=QKA~J3h1ibDdMlvVZ4VZPV75YplqSOfwFP5vUiearZnME9p4Tu-uN2cuqblAgSOs5EowLZSoOB9wATE5dTf9XRlK6vJv5gu-hO7a7~BzYaj1tP0XTI6M1ih0vDr0TLAmE6uC9XnBCSHUfIMsZ39hKrBhH4R19tfyUjm6Qs8YQSFStZAOx~FVk4LuZWY~q~uHbA0-gj6kEDMrLW3UYdCbqTFJuyfaoSRRnZqpiYejFvR4qp1hF~xNj8Y4ZXBhQbW28bzODFPrn0PY2T7SZXJ8brvBz-zDZ0wAwSMbrF05UOiZCRP8baaRcOel70xHE9HeegM5K7NO73AGbIUYwWHyrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate of Idaho","date","2025-02-10T00:00:00Z","article","University of Idaho officials told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Monday that agricultural research and extension remain core pieces of Idaho’s economy and rural services, and described recent capital investments and staffing that they say support statewide agriculture and community outreach.

Kevin Campbell, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, summarized the Agricultural Research and Extension Service’s footprint: physical presence in 42 of 44 counties, 10 research and extension centers, access to more than 14,000 acres of research land and roughly 341 full‑time‑equivalent positions. Dean Michael Perella, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), made remarks and introduced senior staff.

The nut of the presentation was twofold: infrastructure and programming. Campbell and Perella noted new and renovated facilities — including the Idaho Center for Plant and Soil Health at Parma — and recent appropriations for faculty and maintenance. Perella said the college is leveraging state support to attract external grants and hire early- and mid‑career faculty, and that those investments have helped raise CALS’ national profile.

Perella discussed research priorities including soil health, water use efficiency, breeding and crop improvement, and nutrition. “When you think about molecular techniques and how that is going to be impacting agriculture, it is profound,” he said, and cited the Parma facility as a key new asset for molecular and storage research. He also emphasized a growing focus on nutrition and human health tied to agricultural production.

Extension’s statewide role drew sustained attention. Perella said extension has five program areas — agriculture, natural resources, 4‑H youth development, communities and families — and noted extension’s reach: more than 450,000 face‑to‑face contacts and 75,000 youth in 4‑H during the prior year. Extension staff are also engaged in rural digital‑literacy and adult computer‑literacy programs funded initially with ARPA and supplemented by competitive federal proposals; Perella said the college’s team had secured a competitive Federal Communications Commission (FCC) broadband-related grant application that, if awarded nationally competitive funds, could bring substantial additional resources to the state.

Committee members pressed for clarity about why extension is running adult computer‑literacy efforts. Perella framed these programs as part of extension’s mission to benefit rural communities and close the digital divide, and said the college is coordinating with the Department of Commerce and two‑year schools for broader statewide reach. He noted the ARPA funds that supported initial efforts and said extension planned to pursue federal grant funding to sustain the work.

Lawmakers also asked about personnel and budget composition. Campbell said personnel made up the largest portion of spending for the Service (about 81% in recent years) and that the five‑year base budget had risen by roughly $6.2 million from FY2021 to FY2025; he flagged recent appropriations for new faculty in animal and plant sciences, maintenance funding for the Parma research laboratory and ARPA funds supporting broadband and adult computer literacy.

Perella announced his upcoming retirement effective June and used his closing remarks to thank legislators and highlight the college’s impact on Idaho’s agricultural economy, which he said contributes nearly 20% of the state’s economic output. He credited state investments with lowering faculty turnover and leveraging additional competitive funds for research and extension work around the state.

Committee members requested more detailed metrics and outcome measures for extension programs and expressed interest in reviewing the college’s documentation on saved costs and community impact that Perella referenced. No votes were taken on agricultural research and extension items at the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Finance Meeting February 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences told JFAC it is expanding research capacity, highlighted a new Parma research facility and described extension work addressing rural digital literacy and community needs, while Dean Michael Perella announced his upcoming retirement.","taxTitle","Finance, SENATE, Committees, Legislative, Idaho","taxId",69393,"location","Idaho","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":44,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6342463,"Idaho lawmakers hear renewed demand for CTE capacity, faculty and industry partnerships",2355,69000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2254904-03ce722afdda58d8e2e92cbe8afc7733&start=69&end=2424","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2254904-03ce722afdda58d8e2e92cbe8afc7733/thumbnail_69000.jpg","/articles/6342463/Idaho/Idaho-lawmakers-hear-renewed-demand-for-CTE-capacity-faculty-and-industry-partnerships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342463-c0b844cc0ec3bfe904706bae3c0f2dd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771034157&Signature=AUSkVoYqn1x94YfAuQHWfG~-sG5qhuHPhvaqLK6VG3mDO796mEvucX0vU7ZYVJN-4FnaLHEz-GFhpAbzWWA2cUM8Xj6SIO51MYiVv6ZcQRE5xXzFHr4a0CTxP-QnP9G4sd2~DFGfjghQ6rRbtFGofW8Qtb7rEd9llYlBlysbjV1vNk9YxZqMLBVncnnM7u3ejcX-KZ-loEOTBCYFPlMiPLE9L92YpGFZJfL2YBZM57dPwVZBk~ny2T766NTFbP-hphYYwzzygmelltZaMYm5vtC1XtFGH2AVMePjTe9~FYUSQmqMrfTQuLrrgcMdgEZxVcMo~FFFXUUFYYRzVIgc2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) on Monday heard that Idaho’s Division of Career Technical Education (CTE) is facing “massive growth of demand” across secondary and postsecondary programs and needs additional faculty, facilities and private-sector partnerships to expand capacity.

Kevin Campbell, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, opened the presentation with an overview of CTE’s statewide role and funds. Joshua Whitworth, executive director of the State Board of Education and interim administrator for the CTE division, told the committee the federal grants CTE relies on remain “available,” but cautioned that “we have to be diligent about when we pull that down” and watch changing guidance.

The testimony matters because committee members pressed for specifics on where additional state money would go and how the state will ensure expanded programs actually meet employer demand. CTE officials described a mix of constraints — students, instructors and facilities — that together limit how quickly the system can add seats.

Whitworth said demand is rising at both the secondary and postsecondary levels and that some programs are oversubscribed. “We are seeing large demand across the entire career technical education ecosystem,” he said, and offered to supply the committee with lists of oversubscribed programs and enrollment data. He told lawmakers the division can expand seats primarily by adding faculty and facility capacity at existing technical colleges rather than creating brand-new programs.

Campbell walked members through CTE’s funding sources and recent appropriations. CTE uses several restricted funds, including the Displaced Homemaker Fund (a $20 fee on divorces supporting training at Centers for New Directions), the Hazardous Materials and Waste Enforcement Fund (revenue from hazmat trip and annual permits used for firefighter hazmat training), and the Motorcycle Safety Fund (fees from licenses, registrations and safety program registrations dedicated to motorcycle training). He also said CTE typically spends nearly all of its appropriations, with personnel and trustee/benefit payments the largest categories.

On specific requests, Whitworth described the governor’s recommendation of $10 million ongoing from the General Fund to build capacity in “high demand” CTE programs. He said the intent is to distribute grants to technical colleges and other institutions based on demonstrated demand and industry engagement rather than equal per‑institution shares. “The grant would require some engagement by industry to participate,” Whitworth said; industry matching and commitments would be part of awarding funds.

Committee members pressed for detail on how the $10 million would be awarded, oversight and whether the proposal duplicates existing programs run by the Workforce Development Council and the statewide Launch program. Whitworth said the Launch program primarily funds student access to education while CTE’s role is to ensure program quality and connect education to business needs; the proposed business‑industry engagement manager position would embed support at the district level to link local school districts with employers, he added.

Lawmakers asked about particular program bottlenecks. Senate members and representatives cited welding and nursing as examples of persistent wait lists. Whitworth told the committee Idaho has an especially large need for welders tied to regional manufacturing growth and potential industrial projects. He said expanding welding seats typically means working with community and technical colleges that already run welding programs, adding faculty, ventilation and shop space rather than creating entirely new programs.

Members also raised questions about several restricted fund balances Campbell had highlighted. On the Hazardous Materials and Waste Enforcement Fund, Whitworth said staff would validate reporting and provide follow-up information; on the Motorcycle Safety Fund he agreed to review fee structures and expenditure plans given rising balances. Committee members requested more granular breakdowns of personnel costs and how much funding is spent directly at technical colleges versus centrally.

CTE listed several recent enhancements in FY 2024 and FY 2025 including funding for additional instructors, firefighter training equipment, and one-time investments for secondary programs and equipment. Specific requests for FY 2026 included ongoing funding for instructors in at‑capacity technical college programs, a business‑industry engagement manager, adult education and literacy funding, and a governor‑recommended $10 million ongoing capacity grant program. Whitworth said the division will produce lists of oversubscribed programs and more detailed grant design and oversight plans for the committee.

The committee did not take votes on CTE items during the hearing; members asked for follow-up materials and more detailed budget breakdowns before floor debate.","Officials told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee that Career Technical Education programs across Idaho face rising student demand and wait lists, and outlined a governor-backed $10 million ongoing request to expand faculty, facilities and industry partnerships to add seats in high-demand programs such as welding and nursing.","actionData","errors"]

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University of Idaho officials highlight research, extension reach and new facilities in JFAC budget hearing

Idaho lawmakers hear renewed demand for CTE capacity, faculty and industry partnerships