What Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County does

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County (CCE Putnam) is a private non-profit county-level educational office operating within Cornell University's land-grant cooperative extension system, headquartered at 1 Geneva Road, Brewster, New York. Established in 1989, it delivers research-based educational programs to Putnam County residents across six program areas: 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Food & Nutrition, and Gardening. Its core offerings include 4-H youth clubs, a Master Gardener Volunteer program with ~100 active volunteers, a Horticulture Hotline and Diagnostic Lab, the Putnam Pollinator Pathway initiative, Seed Libraries in all county public libraries, Beekeepers' Corner, and the Build A Dream Capital Campaign at Tilly Foster Farm.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform; it functions as a community education hub that translates Cornell University research into accessible workshops, webinars, and volunteer-led outreach. Digital touchpoints are limited to a standard website, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest), a quarterly email newsletter, and Zoom-based webinars.

CCE Putnam's revenue mechanics are dispersed and low-unit-value: nominal participant fees ($35 annual 4-H membership, $15 diagnostic samples, $375 Master Gardener training tuition, modest club fees of $5–$25), Speakers Bureau honoraria, and charitable fundraising — most prominently the Build A Dream Capital Campaign which has raised over $601K toward a $1M goal. The underlying funding base consists of public extension funding, Cornell University affiliation, and donations. Go-to-market is community-led: programs are delivered free or at low cost through workshops, the volunteer hotline, on-site diagnostics, library partnerships, and a new portfolio of monthly statewide webinars reaching NY State agricultural operators.

Name

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County

Legal name

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County

Website

https://cceputnamcounty.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County is a Brewster, NY-based non-profit educational office delivering Cornell University research-based programs in 4-H youth development, gardening, agriculture, environment, energy, and nutrition to Putnam County residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brewster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Educational Programs and Workshops: Free or low-cost educational workshops and programming for county residents covering gardening, youth development, energy assistance, and food & nutrition.
2. Membership and Club Fees: Annual 4-H Club membership fee of $35 per youth; various club fees ranging from $5-$25 for supplies and materials.
3. Diagnostic Services: Soil pH testing, insect/plant identification, and plant problem diagnosis for $15 per sample ($10 senior discount on Wednesdays).
4. Master Gardener Volunteer Training: Training program with tuition fee of $375 covering classes, resource manual, and texts.
5. Speakers Bureau: Fee-based presentations by Master Gardener Volunteers to organizations; discounts available for libraries, schools, and public organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County delivers research-based, non-degree educational programming to county residents across 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture, Gardening, Environment, Energy, and Food & Nutrition. Programs are delivered through workshops, volunteer-led horticulture support, diagnostic services, youth clubs, monthly webinar series, and community partnerships, with most services free or low-cost and supported by Cornell University land-grant resources.

Product overview

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County operates as a community education organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services focused on youth development, agriculture, gardening, and environmental stewardship. The core offerings include 4-H Youth Development Programs (featuring clubs like Face Painting, Livestock, NatureCraft, Sewing, Poultry, Puppeteer Players, Horse, and Shooting Sports), the Master Gardener Volunteer Program (with horticulture hotline, diagnostic lab, and seed library), and environmental initiatives like the Putnam Pollinator Pathway. Additional services include webinar series covering agritourism, business development, and cut flower production; energy assistance programs; and educational resources on tick management and sustainable practices. The organization uses the Build A Dream Capital Campaign at Tilly Foster Farm as a major community initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 4-H Youth Development Programs Youth development programs grounded in hands-on learning where kids complete projects with guidance from adult mentors and take on leadership roles. Includes clubs such as Face Painting, Livestock, NatureCraft, Sewing, Poultry, Puppeteer Players, Horse, and Shooting Sports for ages 5-18.
• Master Gardener Volunteer Program Volunteer training program where trained Master Gardener Volunteers expand educational outreach by providing research-based information to home gardeners through a horticulture hotline, diagnostic lab, plant sales, and community education.
• Putnam Pollinator Pathway Initiative to encourage and support habitat for native pollinators by establishing connected habitat corridors across Putnam County through native plantings and pesticide-free practices.
• Seed Library Seed lending program available at all public libraries in Putnam County, operated by Master Gardener Volunteers, aimed at spreading awareness of heirloom and open-pollinated plant varieties.
• Horticulture Hotline & Diagnostic Lab Diagnostic service where Master Gardener Volunteers answer gardening questions and analyze soil samples, plants, and insects for county residents. Provides insect/plant identification, soil pH testing, and plant problem diagnosis.
• Beekeepers' Corner Collaboration with The Center for the Advancement of Apiculture to promote sustainable beekeeping practices, offering programs, classes, workshops, and symposiums focused on bee health and conservation.
• Agritourism Webinar Series Monthly webinar series providing practical guidance for agritourism operators covering topics such as farm safety, marketing, labor regulations, insurance, and business sustainability.
• Business Development and Marketing Monthly Webinar Series Monthly webinar series focusing on business development and marketing topics for agricultural operations across New York State, led by content experts.
• Cut Flower Webinar Series Monthly webinar series for cut flower growers covering practical, research-based strategies for successful production including topics like cover crops, beneficial insects, soil testing, and dahlia cultivation.
• Energy Assistance Programs Energy efficiency incentive programs including EmPower Plus, Weatherization Assistance, and financing options for residents based on income levels, delivered through Community Energy Advisors who help residents apply for NYSERDA programs and incentives.
• Speakers Bureau Master Gardener Volunteer presentations available to organizations on various gardening topics and environmental issues, typically 45 minutes to one hour with Q&A. Minimum group size 10 people. Discounts available for libraries, schools, and public organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80-90% of flowering plants depend on insect pollination
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New York Agriculture in the Classroom (NYAITC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1985Established partnership with Cornell University, NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets, NYS Education Department, and New York Farm Bureau to foster awareness and appreciation of agriculture through educator and student engagement.
• The Center for the Advancement of ApiculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam County and The Center for the Advancement of Apiculture to promote beekeeping practices that improve productivity, health, and conservation of bees. Joint programs, classes, workshops, and symposiums designed to build upon foundational training for bee enthusiasts.
• SUNY Upstate Medical University (Thangamani Lab)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for community-science tick testing program investigating geographic expansion of ticks and tick-borne diseases in New York. Free tick testing for research purposes when funding allows.
• United Way of Westchester and PutnamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with United Way of Westchester and Putnam to bring garden-based education programs to childcare centers in Putnam County, supporting childhood nutrition and obesity prevention.
• Putnam County Department of Health (Live Healthy Putnam Coalition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Live Healthy Putnam Coalition to address childhood obesity (4% higher than state average) through garden-based education and healthy eating programs.
• New York State IPM ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDon't Get Ticked NY campaign partnership to reduce human exposure to ticks and tick-borne diseases, promoting integrated pest management practices.
• Cornell Turfgrass ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Cornell Turfgrass Program faculty, NYSIPM program staff, and extension educators across the state providing research-based lawn care guidance.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland County: County-level CCE office in the lower Hudson Valley, NY operating within the same regional association as CCE Putnam. Comparable in scope (4-H, gardening, environment, energy) and target audience, making it a close operational peer.
• Oregon State University Extension Service: Land-grant extension service of Oregon State University running Master Gardener, 4-H, forestry, and agricultural programs across Oregon counties. Comparable in that it pairs university research with community-based education, the same model CCE Putnam executes at county level.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County: County-level CCE office serving Suffolk County, NY within the same Cornell land-grant system. Operates 4-H youth development, Master Gardener, agriculture, and horticulture programs with an identical mission, funding structure, and service-portfolio mix as CCE Putnam County.
• Penn State Extension: Statewide land-grant extension service from Penn State University delivering 4-H, Master Gardener, agriculture, and community education programs. Closest large-scale analogue to the CCE system in mission, structure, and content model — differs only in geographic scale.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County: Sister CCE county office in Tompkins County, NY using the same organizational model, programmatic areas, and Cornell University backing. It is repeatedly cited in CCE Putnam's own materials as a peer for educational content and program design.
• Rutgers Cooperative Extension: New Jersey's land-grant extension service delivering 4-H, Master Gardener, agriculture, and natural-resources programming through county offices. Directly comparable mission and delivery model to CCE Putnam within the cooperative extension system.
• University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension: Land-grant extension service of UNH offering 4-H, Master Gardener, agricultural resources, and community education across New Hampshire. Operates with the same research-based, county-delivered model as CCE Putnam County.

Broad incumbents

• National 4-H Council: National umbrella organization for the 4-H youth development program that CCE Putnam delivers locally. Comparable because 4-H youth programming is one of CCE Putnam's primary offerings, though National 4-H operates at a national scale rather than county-level delivery.
• American Horticultural Society: National nonprofit promoting horticulture through education, publications, and programs. Comparable to CCE Putnam's gardening and horticulture education mission, but operates as a membership-based national organization rather than a county-level delivery model.
• The Garden Conservancy: National nonprofit focused on preserving exceptional American gardens and providing gardening education. Comparable to CCE Putnam's mission of public gardening education and pollinator/habitat stewardship, though oriented toward preservation rather than extension delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDulGwrCXybpHaUfrbKZ-Gw
• Facebookfacebook.com/CCEPutnam
• Instagraminstagram.com/cceputnam
• Pinterestpinterest.com/cceputnam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cceputnamcounty

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County