The Extension Foundation, in partnership with key stakeholders, has selected Merit to help launch a digital marketplace designed to enhance access to Cooperative Extension programs offered by the nation’s 112 Land-grant Universities and Colleges. This marketplace, part of the Foundation’s national program known as the AgriProspects Workforce Development Network, aims to bridge workforce development gaps by connecting earners, learners, and employers to educational resources and skill-building opportunities that support local and regional workforce ecosystems. This work is supported by a grant between the Extension Foundation and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
The marketplace will serve as a centralized hub where learners, earners, and employers can discover Cooperative Extension offerings based on location and area of interest. Designed with scalability and adaptability in mind, the platform represents a critical step in supporting rural and underserved communities through accessible upskilling and reskilling opportunities.
“Extension programming is uniquely positioned to address workforce development challenges by providing learners with the tools they need to succeed in today’s economy,” said Dr. Jason Weigle, Program Manager for the AgriProspects Workforce Development Network at the Extension Foundation. “This marketplace represents a bold step forward in connecting individuals with the resources and credentials they need to thrive.”
In its first phase, the marketplace will focus on aggregating and organizing existing Cooperative Extension adult agricultural workforce programming and skills taught, enabling users to easily search by ZIP code and area of interest. Future phases will incorporate digital credentials, known as Learning and Employment Records (LERs), and digital wallets to empower learners with portable, secure documentation of their skills and qualifications.
While currently focused on adult agricultural workforce development, the marketplace is designed to be scalable for future expansion beyond the agriculture sector, utilizing emerging LERs and digital wallets, and ensuring interoperability with existing and emerging credentialing systems, skilling trees, and learning management systems
This initiative aligns with the Extension Foundation’s commitment to workforce development as a cornerstone of Cooperative Extension’s mission. By increasing awareness of and access to Extension resources, the marketplace seeks to strengthen local economies, support workforce readiness, and promote lifelong learning.
To hear Extension Foundation’s Jason Weigle discuss How LERs help transition to a skills-based economy, visit the interview here. To learn more about the Extension Foundation and its AgriProspects Workforce Development Network, visit extension.org. To learn more about Merit, visit https://www.merits.com.
AgriProspects is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under Workforce Development Competitive Grant 2023-67037-40533. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website and consultative support are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Extension Foundation.
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