CHENANGO COUNTY - The Chenango County Department of Planning and Development and the Environmental Management Council (EMC) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Colgate University to support Chenango County’s ongoing participation in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Program.

As part of this collaboration, students from Colgate University are assisting the County and its EMC with completing PE9 Action: Climate Change Education & Engagement, an action within the CSC certification framework. This effort focuses on strengthening community awareness and engagement around climate-related initiatives and sustainability efforts in Chenango County.

Through the project, Colgate students are developing a comprehensive outreach and engagement plan designed to help Chenango County better connect with residents, community groups, and local organizations. The plan will outline strategies for community engagement, identify key partners, and include an analysis of the audiences the County aims to reach through climate education and sustainability initiatives.

A central component of the project is a community survey currently being conducted by Colgate students. To complete the survey, please visit

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1608gykaqfXPSCt7eGvN6_YN8Llb5L6q3O0spT9wEFb-4Cw/viewform. The information gathered will help inform the development of an outreach program that is responsive to community interests and participation patterns.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening local engagement around climate initiatives while providing students with hands-on experience in public sector planning and community-based research.

Colgate Students, Lulu, Sara, and Mary Thomas are current Seniors at Colgate University studying Environmental Studies. “We are interested in hearing from the community about what types of events they would like to see, so we can best tailor our recommendations. We would appreciate it if you would take a couple minutes out of your day to answer a few questions. Your participation is a critical aspect of our project and will have direct benefits for our learning and the success of the report”, Colgate students added.

Chenango County encourages residents to participate in the survey and contribute their perspectives on how the County can best engage the community in future initiatives.

For more information about current Chenango County climate initiatives, please visit: https://www.chenangocountyny.gov/398/Environmental-Management-Council-EMC.

- From the Chenango County Planning Department