The LSU AgCenter’s Orleans Parish chairwoman Bertina McGhee has worked for the last 10 years to gain the support of the city of New Orleans, and now her efforts have finally paid off.The New Orleans city council decided it will contribute to the AgCenter for the first time since the 1980s. The AgCenter officially thanked the council at its April 2 meeting.”That has been my primary goal since becoming parish chair,” McGhee said. “I’ve been successful, and they are more aware [of the AgCenter’s efforts].”McGhee said the New Orleans city council budgeted more than $100,000 of its tax dollars to contribute to the AgCenter. She said the AgCenter will use the money for virtually every aspect of its operation in Orleans Parish, including funding programs, providing office space and salary support, and providing utilities and supplies.Orleans Parish is the last parish in the state to contribute money to the AgCenter. All of the other 64 parishes have been contributing.”We were the parish that was benefitting the most and doing the least. So we have made ourselves credible now in the state of Louisiana by doing our fair share,” said New Orleans city council president Jackie Clarkson in a news release.McGhee said despite not receiving funding in the past, the AgCenter has provided the same amount and type of services to Orleans Parish that it has provided to every other parish in the state.”The AgCenter provides educational services to the citizens of the parish such as agricultural and natural resources and youth development,” McGhee said.She added her office provides horticulture educational programs, master gardener courses and helps protect coastal resources and fisheries.”We have a full-blown urban extension service program here that is very well-received, very well-appreciated and now looks like it’s going to be well-supported,” AgCenter vice-chancellor Paul Coreil said in a news release.McGhee said her next goal is to obtain a signed cooperative agreement with the parish, something the AgCenter has obtained from every other parish in the state.”We’re very happy about the accomplishment,” she said. “The circle is not complete, but we have made strides.” ——Contact Matthew Barnidge at [email protected]