The public service arm of U.S. land-grant colleges and universities that puts research into practical use in local communities. The Extension Service was established in 1914 through the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.).  It functions as a partnership among federal, state, and local governments, with campus-based faculty members and locally based educators helping people, businesses, and communities solve problems, develop skills, and collect input to prioritize future research at the land-grant colleges and universities to meet local needs. Extension operates in all 50 states, six U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia — and operated by each jurisdiction’s land-grant university or universities. Extension has offices in or near most of the nation’s 3,000 counties.

With its expansive mission, historical impact, and strong ties to local communities, Extension plays a major role in community, economic, and workforce development (CEWD). Cooperative Extension is the nation’s largest provider of noncredit education.