NORWICH – At meetings of the Finance and Personnel Committee and the Public Works and Public Safety Committee, City of Norwich Planning and Community Development Specialist Todd Dreyer told members about numerous grants he is in the process of pursuing.

In order to give the two committees an idea of what he was working on, Dreyer summarized the different grants he was pursuing.

One of the grants Dreyer is working on is the Main Street Program, which is being done in conjunction with the Business Improvement District. The Main Street Program will allow loans to be given to local businesses. “This is the first time we’ve considered a loan in a long time,” said Dreyer. Geri Barnes, owner of the Coffee Connection on Broad Street, has requested a loan from the city that will be paid back in a period of five years. Barnes would use the money to improve her business by adding a tapas bar, which will include new gourmet cuisine and serve wine and beer.