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Millbrook, NY-- Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County (CCEDC) is proud to announce that it has received four awards through Dutchess County’s 2026 Agency Partner Grant (APG) program. The APG program, administered through the county’s Department of Planning and Development and supported by a volunteer Community Development Advisory Committee, provided more than $2 million to twenty-seven nonprofit organizations addressing community needs across youth services, workforce development, family support, literacy, nutrition, and more.
CCEDC’s awards include the following investments in local community impact:
4-H Youth Development received $69,779 to continue support for 4-H Youth Development: Literacy Assistance for All. This funding allows 4-H to deliver hands-on experiential learning that strengthens youth leadership, public speaking, financial literacy, writing comprehension, and community engagement. Through 4-H, approximately 300 youth participate in activities including public presentations, officer training, community outreach, and the Dutchess County Fair. Ag Literacy Week, which brings agricultural education into classrooms and reaches nearly 2,000 elementary students, also benefits from this grant.
Green Teen and No Child Left Inside received $116,485 to support youth vocational training, environmental education, and workforce readiness. Green Teen hires teens in Beacon and Poughkeepsie to develop technical gardening skills and life skills that help prepare them for future career success. In 2024, Green Teens grew more than 1,400 pounds of fresh produce and herbs that were donated to community members in need. No Child Left Inside engages youth in natural resource education and encourages community stewardship. Learn more here: https://ccedutchess.org/environment/no-child-left-inside
Want to learn more about these impactful programs? Please visit https://ccedutchess.org/youth-4-h
Parenting and Support Education (PASE) received $53,300 in grant support to strengthen parenting skills through a hands-on, literacy-appropriate curriculum that builds family communication, stability, and confidence. A 1-day PASE Intensive workshop is scheduled for Saturday, February 21st. Please visit https://ccedutchess.org for complete information and to register!
Relatives As Parents Program (RAPP) received $38,500 to assist grandparents and other relatives who step in to raise children. This funding ensures caregivers receive vital education, guidance, and resources as they take on expanded family responsibilities. If you know a kinship family in need of support, please visit https://ccedutchess.org/family
“These Agency Partner Grant awards are essential to sustaining the research-based, hands-on programming that enables youth, families, and caregivers to thrive,” said Jessica Canale, Interim Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County. “We are grateful to Dutchess County for this continued partnership and for investing in programs that build skills, opportunity, and community resilience.”
About Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County (CCEDC).
CCEDC delivers research-based programs in agriculture, youth development, environmental sustainability, nutrition, and more. Key initiatives include Green Teen, Master Gardeners, Dutchess County 4-H, Taste NY at Todd Hill, Family and Consumer Education and the Mid-Hudson Clean Energy Hub.
CCEDC puts knowledge to work in pursuit of economic vitality, ecological sustainability and social well-being. We bring local experience and research-based solutions together, helping families and communities thrive in our rapidly changing world. For more information on CCEDC’s programs and services, visit ccedutchess.org or call 845-677-8223.
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