YUMA, Ariz.  — The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension in Yuma is set to receive a new 16,000-square-foot building, following the approval of a two-acre land sale from the university to Yuma County by the board of regents.

The new facility will include office spaces, laboratories, and a commercial kitchen dedicated to teaching nutrition. The location is strategically chosen to better serve the community, enhancing engagement and educational outreach.

“We’ll be just better located and because of that we’ll have better engagement with the community and be able to just better deliver just because of the location,” said Shane Burgess, Vice President for Agriculture Life, Nature Science, and Cooperative Extension.

The new building will be situated near County 15th St. and Avenue A, allowing for improved access to various agricultural and educational programs. It will support initiatives like the 4-H youth education program and community-focused programs on diabetes prevention.

“We’ll have land available that’s owned by the university which will be made available to us,” said Ed Martin, Associate Vice President and Director of the Cooperative Extension. The space will also facilitate urban agriculture improvement and help individuals interested in starting small farms.

The new building is expected to foster the future of agriculture in Yuma County by providing hands-on training and resources for the next generation of farmers. “Our next generation of farmers and ranchers of these farms are going to be technicians and they’re going to be technical experts and they’re going to be people who are going to be trained in areas such as communications and graphics,” Martin explained.

In addition to agricultural programs, the new building will house initiatives focused on family development and financial planning. Plans for the construction are expected to move forward soon, marking a significant step toward strengthening agricultural education and community programs in the region.

With the addition of this building, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension aims to expand its role in supporting Yuma County’s growth, agricultural innovations, and local educational opportunities.

Originally reported by Eduardo Morales in KYMA.