Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

New county extension office construction begins

Groundbreaking for a new building with office and meeting space for the Curry County Cooperative Extension Service was held Wednesday at the Curry County Fairgrounds.

The $3.87 million building will be located southwest of the Events Center across the center's parking lot.

Curry County Public Services Director Ben Roberts said the funding for the 6,272 square foot building came from the state legislature and the federal government.

"The state money came from Capital Outlay funding, $1.2 million," Roberts said. "And from the American Rescue Funds Act we received $2.67 million."

Curry County Commission chair Chet Spear in addressing the estimated 60 people who gathered for the groundbreaking, credited Roberts with the idea for the new building for the extension service.

"This building has been in progress for five years," Spear said.

Roberts sees the new extension building as a way for the service to expand its programs.

Roberts said the new building should be done by next June before the county fair and the extension service will be able to leave their present offices in the vicinity of the county courthouse and jail.

County Extension Service Program Director Mindy Tuner said while the Curry County extension service has a 4-H building at the fairgrounds the new building has meeting space and office space.

"We will have equipment for live streaming," Turner said.

Turner said the extension service is appreciative of the support for the building from their clients and elected officials.

Turner said the extension service provides "educational programs related to agriculture, home, family, nutrition and youth development.

"We work with an advisory council to identify programming needs in Curry County," Turner said.