Success StoryNew Extension Office Opens



New Extension Office Opens

Author: James Morgeson

Planning Unit: Washington County CES

Major Program: Administrative Functions

Plan of Work: Unrelated to a specified County Plan of Work

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

The Washington County District Board purchased land for a new Extension Office in 2009 with hopes of saving money to someday build.  In the spring of 2017 ground was broke to make the dream of a new facility reality.  The Horticulture Agent was given the task of being the Office building and budget contact.  While working through the drawing process and bidding processes the facility was drawn and built with 10,0000 square feet of space with a large meeting room that can be broken into separate meeting rooms, a large project room with concrete floors with drains for doing programming that might get a little messy, 5 offices for agents, a large secretary area with storage, a board room, and a training kitchen.  The original plans bid out at $3 million however through several cost savings measures and rebidding after prevailing wage was rescended the final bid of the project was around $2 million dollars with it coming in $100,000 under budget after building was completed.

The new facility has hosted numerous large events since opening in March including the Chamber of Commerce Gala, New Pioneers For A Sustainable Future Forum, Washington County Beekeeping School, and hosted Cattlemens Groups from Tennessee.

Feedback from the public has been outstanding including quotes like "Wow, its the prettiest building in Washington County"  "No other Extension Office is as pretty as ours!"  "The building layout is perfect".  Also we have already had District Board members from other counties come by for ideas to take back to their local county offices.






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