Hosted by Florida Cooperative Extension Service
June 1-4, 2026, in Gainesville, Florida
Welcome to the NETC 2026 conference page
We are excited to welcome you to Gainesville, Florida for the upcoming National Extension Technology Community (NETC) Conference! Hosted by Florida Cooperative Extension Service; UF and FAMU.
Sunshine as a Service: This year’s National Extension Technology Community conference celebrates the power of shared knowledge and collaborative growth. Just as sunshine fuels life, our community fuels innovation — making technology accessible, sustainable, and impactful. Together, we’ll explore how IT and Extension professionals can harness emerging tools, cultivate grassroots solutions, and shine light on practices that strengthen technology efforts across the Extension community.
To help you make the most of your visit, we’ve included helpful information about Florida and Gainesville, along with a guide to local restaurants. Be sure to nominate your colleagues for NETC awards to celebrate the incredible work happening across Cooperative Extension Services.
NETC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to extending professional development, education, and networking opportunities to Cooperative Extension employees. We’re excited to continue that mission with you in 2026.
See you soon in Gainesville!
Thank you to our sponsors of the 2026 NETC Conference!
What is NETC?
The National Extension Technology Community (NETC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to extending professional development, education, and networking opportunities to Cooperative Extension employees. Take a look at their website for more information: https://netctech.org
NETC Annual Awards
The National Extension Technology Community’s Board hosts an awards program with the goal of recognizing outstanding performers within the Community. Check out the website for more information: https://netctech.org/member-resources/awards/
Registration Information:
Registration Policy: Full refunds are available until May 15, 2026.
Institutional members: University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Arkansas, Auburn University, Clemson University, and The Ohio State University.
Conference locations and hotel Information:
The NETC 2026 conference will be held at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center in Gainesville, Florida. Please use the following information to book your room and travel to the host location.
Hilton University of Florida Conference Center
1714 SW 34th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32607
352-371-3600 (front desk)
Room rate: $159/night June 1-3, 2026
Addresses and other information:
Conference location/Hotel: Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, 1714 SW 34th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32607, 352-371-3600
Conference Host: Florida Cooperative Extension Service ATTN: Val Aldrnari, PO Box 110210, Gainesville, FL 32611, 352-392-1761
Conference Host contacts: Val Aldrnari, Admin Specialist, valkyriea@ufl.edu or 352-273-3594 and Joe Gasper, Systems Admin, gasperj@ufl.edu or 352-273-1474
Agenda:
PDF version of basic agenda: NETC 2026 Agenda
Full agenda with breakout sessions and descriptions: Session list
Thank you to our local partner!!
Travel Information:
Airports
Gainesville Regional Airport (closest, 8.6 miles) GNV - https://www.flygainesville.com
Jacksonville International Airport (84 miles) JAX - https://flyjacksonville.com
Orlando International Airport (121 miles) MCO - https://flymco.com/
Car rentals
All listed airports have car rentals available to assist with your commute to Gainesville. Gainesville has additional locations in town and at our airport for Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National.
Local Information:
Visit Gainesville!
Click here for things to do in Gainesville including local events, history, tours, outdoor recreation and trails, museums, shopping and dining. Some museums are in walking distance of the host hotel.
Click here for a list of restaurants that are ready for large groups.
Click here for Alachua County Ale Trail – Award-Winning Craft Breweries
Visit Florida!
Florida offers a wide variety of attractions worth exploring, from thrilling theme parks to serene state parks. Take a look at the websites below as a starting point.
Orlando visitor website
Jacksonville visitor website
Tampa visitor website
Florida State Parks website
Additional ideas: Ocala, St. Augustine, Sarasota
Contact Val Aldrnari for web updates
Last updated May 2026