Spotlight on North Central Programs: Michigan State University Michigan State University Extension’s Community, Food, and Environment Institute
(CFEI) is focused on developing strong sustainable community blueprints that strengthen relationships and social capital, foster innovative economic growth, and leverage and sustain our natural resources. Housed within CFEI is a small dedicated team of professionals that comprise the Tourism Development team. MSU Extension’s tourism development team works statewide addressing community needs and interests in leveraging assets and resources for tourism development. A variety of programs exist to assist a community or region in becoming a destination or launch initiatives to strengthen existing tourism offerings. Programs are specifically designed to involve local leaders and stakeholders in a collaborative process for developing regional synergies and inclusiveness, exploring niche markets and/or capitalizing on the results of community assessments by
first-time visitors. Ultimately, programs can form the basis for future development, spawn local leadership, and strengthen community vitality. Further information can be found by visiting https://www.canr.msu.edu/tourism/ programs/ and/or contacting Andy Northrop, MSU Extension Community Vitality/Tourism Educator and NET Chair (2022-2024), at northro5@msu.edu. MSU Extension’s Andy Northrop presenting to a Michigan community. Credit: MSUE/Northrop 2021
Spotlight on North Central Programs: Iowa State University Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Community and Economic Development (CED) unit fosters thriving, resilient Iowa communities through our programs, processes and projects. CED specialists work as interdisciplinary teams in five areas of expertise: 1) Civic Engagement and Equity, 2) Data and Technology, 3) Local Government and Housing, 4) Small Business Development, and 5) Tourism Development. Our tourism development team works statewide to strengthen communities and their team to develop and deliver innovative programming to address state and local community tourism needs. New programs that our tourism team created and are delivering at the request of these state and community partnerships include Interpretive Guide Training and Certification, The Great Iowa Road Trip (Covid-19 recovery), Customer Service and Community Tourism Strategies, and Customer Service Train-the-Trainer; as well as statewide programming in agritourism, tourism entrepreneurship, and group travel. For more information, contact Diane Van Wyngarden, State Tourism Specialist, at dvw@iastate.edu or visit Iowa State University Extension’s website at https://go.iastate.edu/VAX4FG. local economies by teaching best practices and providing hands-on technical assistance. This team enjoys strong partnerships with Iowa’s state tourism office, and with regional and community tourism leaders, who conduct needs assessment and contract our tourism
28 Extension Tourism: Impact and Opportunities of Land- and Sea-Grant Programming
extensiontourism.net
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