On the Table was a one-day opportunity to gather around a table with friends, neighbors, colleagues (and potential new clientele) to share a meal and have a real conversation about what's important to us. On the Table conversations are meant to encourage everyone to think about the community issues they care about while adding a diversity of voices to the discussion of who we are, where we’re going and what we can do, together, to get there. The goal is to discover how each of us can join with the hundreds of people and organizations that make our community a better place for all.

This year, the Franklin County Community Fund, in partnership with the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce, brought On the Table to Franklin County. The Franklin County Extension Agents not only offered the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Service as a Super Site, but hosted an open lunch meeting to attract new and diversified clientele. This was an ideal way to gather community input from the grass roots level that drives Extension. On the Table was an excellent avenue to hear from sources to build and maintain the neighborhoods and community we desire.

On the Table was a first-of-its-kind community engagement initiative in Franklin County. The conversations from all the different groups and locations had will inform decision making about planning, development, investment, social services, rural lands, and the environment. By empowering people's voices, we will collectively help improve the quality of life in Frankfort and Franklin County.

The Franklin County Community Fund, a local, permanent, charitable endowment for the

perpetual benefit of Franklin County, was established by local residents in 2015. The Fund is governed by a local board of advisors. Franklin County Community Fund, in partnership with the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce, collaborated on this exciting initiative. Once they collect and aggregate all the notes, comments and surveys from the 53+ meetings (over 20 attended at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Service), this data will be available to the public and will help the Franklin County Extension Service and its programs, committees and boards to plan and prepare.