ESCANABA - Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) breathed a sigh of relief Friday, when the governor signed the budget without vetoing funding for the organizations.

MSUE and MAES feared Gov. Granholm may line item veto the Extension's $64 million in state funding, which would have resulted in the immediate closure of the Extension's 82 offices and 17 research stations throughout the state and the elimination of its 4-H programs.

"We're very relieved," said Delta County MSU Extension Director Julie Moberg. "We had the impression that she was strongly considering vetoing MSU Extension, but fortunately our constituents voiced some of their concerns, and she listened and she heard what we were working on."

Although, there is relief, there is also the realization that the 44 percent cut, which was included in the budget signed by the governor will be a significant loss. According to Morgan it will mean more regional positions covering larger areas, and restructuring the way the organization provides its services and education.

"We're gathering input from our partners right now," said Moberg. "We talked about our main programming areas, and decided to reduce them down to four primary areas."

According to Moberg, these four primary focus areas will include agriculture and bioeconomy, developing youth for the future, health and nutrition, and a fourth area yet to be named, that will address community, economic development efforts, and natural resource efforts.

"We'll be cutting back on the extra programming we've been doing over the last 80 some years," said Moberg. "We can't keep doing everything we're used to doing. We'll certainly be advocating to see if the state can't find some revenue to soften the cut, but we'll move ahead and begin to make plans with what we do have."

Structural changes at MSU Extension will be announced in the coming months ahead, said Granholm in a radio address last weekend.

MSUE and MAES offer several programs that provide assistance and educational opportunities to Michigan residents. Some of these programs include 4-H Peer Mentoring Learn and Serve, family financial counseling, nutrition education in schools, Parenting Education Program, Better Kid Care (child care provider training) and ServSafe (training for food service managers), among others. In 2008, Delta County 4-H impacted a total of 1,950 youth, according to annual reports.

From now on, Moberg said MSUE and MAES will put more focus on growing Michigan's green economy by developing new energy alternatives and helping consumers learn how to save money by saving energy in their homes.

"That will be part of how we help Michigan develop its economy as well as save consumers' money," she said. "We want to be responsive to the State of Michigan's current needs."

In her recent radio address, Granholm spoke about the importance of MSUE and MAES to Michigan's "going green" efforts.

"...MSU Extension is transforming itself into a 21st Century organization," she said. "MSU Extension has developed a vision and programs for supporting and promoting a green economy."

Some of these programs will include assisting in community-based wind and solar energy projects, supporting the growth of biomass-based companies and focusing on renewable energy and energy efficiency, which will create green jobs and help Michigan meet its future energy needs, Granholm said.

"As Michigan continues to grow its green economy, MSU Extension will be there to help," she said. "Its new programs and partnerships will continue to spur innovation, economic development and regional cooperation."