
Entsminger showcases Maine, brings home national recognition at Extension professionals’ conference
Charleston, West Virginia and Orono, Maine — Jason Entsminger, a University of Maine faculty member, has been recognized by peers in the National Association for Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) for individual excellence in community development programming. The award was announced on June 11, 2025, during NACDEP’s conference in Charleston, West Virginia, and is the highest annual honor given by the professional organization. It recognizes his work in 2024 as part of the team leading the development of a 10-year strategic roadmap for Maine’s outdoor recreation economy.
“I’m honored to be recognized in this way by my peers and to represent Maine and our state’s land-grant university,” said Entsminger, who is the state specialist for small business at UMaine Extension and an assistant professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Maine Business School. “I’ve loved being able to spend the last two years collaborating with our partners in government and industry to engage Mainers in building a vision for this critical part of our economy. I look forward to delivering new Extension programming that will help implement that plan.”
The statewide coalition, which included the University, unveiled the 10-year roadmap in January 2025, following a year-long engagement and development process which involved nearly 450 individuals from Maine businesses and communities from over 30 cities and towns and every county. The roadmap sets out four goals to sustainably grow and manage the outdoor recreation economy in the state. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that in Maine outdoor recreation contributes $3.4 billion to the state economy and employs more than 30,000 workers.
“One of Extension’s strengths is our ability to leverage university expertise for the benefit of Maine communities,” said Jason Bolton, Associate Dean of Extension. “Professor Entsminger’s work is an example of how, through our network of industry partnerships and deep community connections, we can help Maine advance its natural resource-based economy.”
While at the conference, Entsminger found opportunities to showcase Maine on a national stage to experts in community and economic development. During a plenary session, Entsminger offered perspectives on how housing issues pose challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Maine. He also co-facilitated workshops on building business environments that support inclusive opportunity and on coordinating national Extension programming on innovation, entrepreneurship and small business. Entsminger even brought a “taste of Maine” to West Virginia with two gift baskets he donated to the organization’s silent auction featuring food products from Maine farms and small food businesses.
NACDEP award winners are selected in a blind evaluation process by a panel of reviewers representing each of the national organization’s four geographic regions. NACDEP is “dedicated to improving the visibility, coordination, professional status and resource base of community and economic development [Cooperative] Extension programs and professionals” and has nearly 400 members nationwide. It is one of the seven member organizations of the Joint Council of Extension Professionals which “fosters leadership, collaboration, professional development, scholarly activity and strategic partnerships and advocates for the profession” of Extension outreach education.
UMaine Extension is part of the Cooperative Extension System, a publicly funded, transformational educational network operating through land-grant universities in partnership with federal, state and local governments across the U.S. Nationwide, Extension includes 32,000 employees and 2.8 million volunteers.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
As a trusted resource for over 100 years, Extension has supported UMaine’s land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension seeks to build thriving communities and grow the food-based economy, focusing on aspects from production and processing to nutrition, food safety and food security. Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H which offers hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement and creates a positive environment where participants are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.