Extension and Outreach educational programs harness Iowa State University resources to meet the needs of Iowans. Each year nearly one million people from every county in Iowa directly benefit from Extension and Outreach programs.

• Extension and Outreach grows businesses and strengthen communities. Companies who worked with the Center for Industrial Research and Services (CIRAS) last year reported $414 million in total impact which included making $46 million in new investments and creating or retaining more than 5,600 jobs.

Skills training is provided to more than 40,000 community leaders, local government officials, business owners, entrepreneurs and volunteers each year.

• Extension and Outreach supports a safe, sustainable and affordable food supply. More than 6,000 Iowans received information to help them with drought-related issues in 2012.

The drought response continues as we look ahead to 2013 and anticipate Iowan's needs for their farms, families, businesses and communities.

• Extension and Outreach helps Iowa become the healthiest state in the nation. Health and well-beingeducational programs helped nearly 2,000 child care providers improve nutrition skills leading to healthier eating and activities for the children in their care.

• Extension and Outreach prepares young people for the future. Extension and Outreach programs engage Iowa youth in science, technology, engineering, math and 4-H projects ranging from environmental stewardship to polymer experiments and DNA extraction. STEM skills are developed in young people to prepare Iowa's future workforce.

More than 105,000 (that's 1-in-5) school age youth participated in 4-H programs last year.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach makes a difference for Iowans; see how at Our Story.