Director: How is the Leopold Center adapting to the current economic downturn?

By JERRY DeWITT, Leopold Center director

Like other departments and centers at Iowa State University, the Leopold Center will make major budgetary reductions for the fiscal year 2010 that begins July 1, 2009. Our approach has been to carefully plan and reposition our programs to avoid dramatic impacts on the overall work of the Center.

Early in the budgeting process for FY2009-10, I set transparent funding priorities to first maintain staff stability and productivity and to honor the Center’s commitments to existing research and educational projects across Iowa. Our third priority would be to undertake new endeavors and make new investments as part of our annual competitive grant program, with funds typically awarded in January or February.

Since we were in the middle of the competitive grant process when the news of the FY2009-10 cuts surfaced, we notified all leaders of the prospective 2009 projects about the budget situation. They were given tentative approval to begin work on a limited basis in February, with access to only $2,000 or 10 percent of their first-year funding, whichever was greater. Depending upon the severity of the impending reduction in the Leopold Center budget, project leaders were informed that some 2009 projects could be eliminated based upon their relative rating during the proposal review process.

Following the conclusion of the recent Iowa legislative session and the reconciliation of the state and university budgets, it now appears that staff levels will not be severely impacted and the Center will be able to honor commitments to projects that began prior to 2009. We also are proceeding with the 33 new competitive grants selected for funding in 2009 (see announcement on page 1).

However, the FY10 reduction will result in an estimated shortfall of approximately $86,000. This means that three to five fewer competitive grants will be funded in our next round of pre-proposals, with the process scheduled to begin in June 2009. We also plan to scale back our presence at some scheduled events in the coming year to reduce travel and program costs.

Center Progress Report
Another immediate and major change that has been influenced by the economy (and concern for the environment) is the elimination of our Center Progress Report in hard-copy format. This report, which has been published annually since 1992, highlights results of recently completed Leopold Center-funded research and projects. We provided the report to more than 5,000 people worldwide.

Our commitment remains to share this important information with you. We will continue to produce the Center Progress Report and publish it on-line in several print-on-demand formats. We believe this will offer access to our research findings in a more timely and economical manner throughout the year.

Another way to learn about our projects is via brief video reports on our work in the Ecology Initiative. Check out some of our first video research summaries in a new on-line feature, On the Ground with the Leopold Center.

Graduate students at the Center
A second casualty of the state’s grim economic situation is the loss of annual stipends for two graduate assistantships at the Leopold Center. These assistantships were awarded to students in the ISU College of Business who wanted to add a sustainable agriculture emphasis to their MBA degrees. This unique program has allowed very creative students from a number of disciplines to deal with real-life challenges in today’s business world.

We are committed to continue working with administrators in the Colleges of Business and Agriculture and Life Sciences to bring this cooperative effort back on track next year.

Q. How can the Leopold Center support Iowa farmers during these economic times?

I will be working with leaders in all three Leopold Center initiatives and other staff to cultivate our partnerships with Iowa organizations, farm groups, non-profit organizations and in local communities to help build their capacities and competitive edge to secure resources within and outside of Iowa. We know, for example, that our initial and continuing work with local food system efforts in northeast Iowa has resulted in significant external funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. We will continue this and other work across Iowa. How and where can Leopold Center seed money make a lasting difference in Iowa?

I also want to better understand the implications of the major reorganization in ISU Extension at the local level. The 1987 Groundwater Protection Act that founded the Center charged us to work with ISU Extension to share our findings with the public. What unmet needs will now exist to which we can and should redirect some of our Center efforts and outreach? Where are the most critical educational and programming opportunities for the Center? The budget shortfall did not eliminate local needs related to sustainability and our work at the Center; perhaps it opened some doors for us.

Finally, I will work with our staff and advisory board to better focus and fine tune our investments on the most effective and needed programs and projects, research and education, that can and will make a difference on the landscape.

Please share your thoughts on how the Leopold Center may serve Iowans most effectively at this time. We will listen and respond with our best ideas.

News

Director: How is the Leopold Center adapting to the current economic downturn?