Community Development has continued strengthening the information available to support community development efforts across Fond du Lac County. Current work includes refining a countywide inventory of nonprofit and community-serving organizations, verifying records, improving service classifications, and mapping organizations geographically. Community Development is also exploring how Census data can be used alongside this resource to identify community assets, geographic service gaps, and areas where residents may face barriers to accessing assistance.
Community Development is also supporting emerging coalition-building efforts addressing complex issues such as poverty, housing instability, and food insecurity. This work has included helping clarify organizational roles, reviewing partnership structures, developing initial survey questions, and considering how progress and community impact can be measured over time.
Through continued conversations with local organizations and community leaders, Community Development is working to better understand community priorities and identify opportunities for Extension to provide research, facilitation, evaluation, and convening support. These efforts are intended to build upon existing strengths, reduce duplication, and support solutions shaped by the organizations and residents closest to the issues.