County Support Agreements
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On this page: Overview, About County Support Agreements, Workflow, Agreement Execution
Overview
County Support Agreements, sometimes called Local Agreements, play a critical role in ensuring the success of Cooperative Extension programs across California. These agreements not only formalize the collaboration between UC ANR and individual counties but also provide critical support to underserved populations and local communities, directly addressing county-specific needs through research, outreach, and education.
By outlining the responsibilities of both UC ANR and the County, these agreements ensure clarity and mutual understanding, creating a strong foundation for effective program delivery. The responsibilities may include delivery of UCCE programming, County financial or in-kind contributions, staffing, and resource management, all of which are vital to maintaining the extension programs that serve local agricultural, environmental, and community health needs.
The relationship between the UCCE County Director (CD) and County personnel is essential to the success of this collaboration. UCCE County Directors act as liaisons, fostering ongoing communication to ensure that the County's needs and priorities are understood and addressed by UC ANR. Strong relationships help foster collaboration and make the issuance/renewal process mutually beneficial.
About County Support Agreements
What are County Support Agreements?
Why are County Support Agreements Important?
County Support Agreements are key to keeping counties involved and supported in UC ANR programs. These agreements help secure resources and keep everyone working together toward UC ANR's mission.
Even though county contributions may differ, all types of support—financial or otherwise—are important for running programs that improve local farming, protect natural resources, and promote community health.
Maintaining and updating these agreements is more than just staying in compliance and avoiding risk. It's about building strong partnerships that can adapt to each county's changing needs. Clear agreements create a solid foundation for future discussions, helping ensure lasting support and successful programs
Our main goal is to create updated agreements with all counties working with UC ANR, making sure we stay aligned with our mission and set up each county for long-term success.
The Role of County Directors
County Support Agreements work best when County Directors (CDs) build strong relationships with county staff. CDs act as the link between UC ANR and local leaders, making sure both sides' needs and goals are included in the agreements.
Good communication helps get county support and makes renewals easier. By staying connected, CDs keep UC ANR programs relevant and responsive to local challenges, including community needs and underserved populations.
We count on CDs to take the lead in managing the relationship with the county and communicating its needs and goals to PCPA, as explained below.
County Support Agreement Workflow
At PCPA, we’re here to make County Support Agreements easy and help UC ANR programs without causing delays. We aim to be as flexible as possible!
The process can take six months or more, depending on the county. This doesn’t include County Board of Supervisors approval. Delays may happen during negotiations while each party ensures compliance with policies and comes to agreement on the terms. Review and approval times can also vary based on the agreement's complexity.
County Directors are the main contact between PCPA and counties. They start the process, manage communication, track progress, and keep PCPA updated.
Follow these steps to get started—we’re here to help make the process smooth and simple!
County Support Agreement Steps |
#1 Initiate DiscussionThe CD approaches the County to discuss terms (or vice versa) – either to renew an existing agreement, update an outdated agreement, or establish a new agreement. |
#2 Keep Key Stakeholders InformedThe CD is responsible for keeping the Director for County Cooperative Extension informed throughout the negotiation process. |
#3 Communicate Needs to PCPAThe CD communicates the County’s needs to PCPA before presenting any draft agreement to the County. |
#4 Draft Agreement with PCPADuring the negotiation phase, reach out to newagreement@ucanr.edu to begin drafting the agreement using the PCPA template.
PCPA will help finalize the draft agreement before the CD presents it to the County. |
#5 CD Presents Draft to CountyThe CD presents the PCPA-approved draft to the County for review. |
#6 Review and RevisionsThe County reviews the draft, makes revisions as needed, and returns it to the CD. |
#7 Review and and Approval ProcessThe CD works with PCPA to review and approve any revisions to the draft. |
#8 Final NegotiationsBoth parties continue negotiations until both are satisfied with the agreement. |
#9 Execution ProcessPCPA assists in the execution process for ANR, while the County handles its own formal approval processes internally. |
Agreement Execution and Signature Authority
County Support Agreements must be executed by the authorized representatives of all parties. For UC ANR, the designated authorities are outlined in Delegation of Authority 1058, which has been re-delegated to the Vice President, the Associate Vice President Research and Extension, the Associate Vice President of Business Operations, etc.
The County Director (CD) also signs the agreement, but only to indicate that they have reviewed and recommended the terms to the appropriate authority.
PCPA arranges the execution process for ANR, while the County handles its own formal approval processes internally.