LANSING -- The Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension service plan to focus more on promoting the state's alternative energy efforts.
In an agreement announced Thursday by Michigan State University and Gov. Jennifer Granholm, the programs will be aimed less at rural communities and more at assisting all communities in their efforts to do more in the clean energy economy. The deal pleased local MSU Extension employees, who feared deep cuts and possible elimination of some programs because of the state's budget woes.
"It's definitely a relief," said Rob Sirrine, MSU Extension director for Leelanau County. "We were kind of in 'wait-and-see' mode."
Sirrine is confident the Ag Stations and Extension offices will continue to offer popular programs that assist local farmers and growers, 4-H programs and related efforts while also expanding into other fields.
"Even though we are restructuring, we will continue to provide the services that our local residents need," he said.
Some had feared Granholm would veto funding for the programs as she gets ready to sign the remaining budget bills. The programs are popular with voters in largely Republican, rural areas of the state, and funding already had been cut in half to deal with the deficit.
The Democratic governor said Thursday she planned to leave the remaining money for the programs in the budget.
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