OFC: $30 million investment in Chenango since 1998
NORWICH – The community doesn’t realize the full scope of the economic contribution of one not-for-profit organization in Chenango County, according to City of Norwich Supervisor Linda E. Natoli, and it’s about time they found out.
Natoli’s Planning & Economic Development Committee learned on Nov. 12 that Opportunities for Chenango, Inc.’s homeownership and preservation programs had made a nearly $30 million investment in the county over the past 10 years, and would likely double that amount in five.
OFC Executive Director Craig Cashman reported that participation in both programs - which are available for low to moderate income families - had grown significantly since 2001. Reaching the $60 million mark by 2013 would be “very doable,” he said.
Cashman joined OFC Housing Director Wayne Viera and Executive Assistant Karen Glasbergen to deliver a power point presentation before Chairman Natoli’s committee. They also requested approval to apply for another round of state grants for 2009.
“We need to support this program. This is a county that can use all the economic dollars it can get. It’s sad to say, but this is what our county is all about,” Natoli said.
Lacking a quorum, however, the committee was unable to approve the $750,000 in applications requested. Natoli apologized for her committee’s poor showing of support for economic development.
“I don’t know where the lack of enthusiasm is,” she said. (Natoli’s committee also lacked a quorum in October.)
Since its inception in the mid to late 1990s, the partnership between Chenango County and OFC has successfully secured $2.1 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The grants afforded assistance to 76 first time homebuyers and for 75 water and septic systems.
Moreover, CDBG funds were used to leverage alternative funding sources nearly 3 to 1, turning $2.1 million into $8.4 million, Viera said.
OFC’s reports show: 157 families achieved homeownership; 496 houses were rehabilitated; 800 were weatherized; 11,000 received Heating Energy Assistance Program funds through OFC; and 1,600 families received Earned Income Tax Credit assistance.
Viera said none of the program’s first-time homebuyers had fallen into foreclosure. Participants are required to take an extensive financing and budgeting course before receiving assistance, and homeowners must also contribute monetarily to the investment.
Natoli asked what she called “a very politically incorrect” question: “Do they maintain their properties afterward or just go back to how they were living before?”
Viera said “the vast majority” of homeowners in the programs maintain their properties.
“We teach them a whole new way of life, not just fix the physical structures. ... Many times, they apply for other programs we have, to continue to improve their lives. The system works; we protect our investment. The vast majority, I’m happy to say, we have had good success with.”
“When you consider what happens to a neighborhood when we come in and stop sewage from coming out into the road or onto the neighbor’s property, you can see that we change people’s lives and build communities,” said Viera.
There are more than 500 people currently on waiting list to receive applications for the two programs and 100 more waiting for their projects to get underway. Cashman said OFC receives 2 to 3 calls every week.
OFC requested to apply for $400,000 in septic and well replacement grants to serve 45 more households and $350,000 to help about 15 first time homebuyers.
“Every dollar you put in brings it right back to the community,” said the agency’s director. “CDBG money leveraged allows us to apply for other grants out there. It’s critical to what we do over the years.”
Natoli called for the committee to gather before next month’s full board of supervisors meeting in order to vote on the request. She also asked Cashman and his staff to make their presentation again before a meeting of the board at a later date. “Everyone needs to know about this. This is something very important that we do,” she said.
Town of Greene Supervisor Jack Cook said he would support next year’s grant requests. The supervisor from Plymouth also attended the meeting.
Natoli’s Planning & Economic Development Committee learned on Nov. 12 that Opportunities for Chenango, Inc.’s homeownership and preservation programs had made a nearly $30 million investment in the county over the past 10 years, and would likely double that amount in five.
OFC Executive Director Craig Cashman reported that participation in both programs - which are available for low to moderate income families - had grown significantly since 2001. Reaching the $60 million mark by 2013 would be “very doable,” he said.
Cashman joined OFC Housing Director Wayne Viera and Executive Assistant Karen Glasbergen to deliver a power point presentation before Chairman Natoli’s committee. They also requested approval to apply for another round of state grants for 2009.
“We need to support this program. This is a county that can use all the economic dollars it can get. It’s sad to say, but this is what our county is all about,” Natoli said.
Lacking a quorum, however, the committee was unable to approve the $750,000 in applications requested. Natoli apologized for her committee’s poor showing of support for economic development.
“I don’t know where the lack of enthusiasm is,” she said. (Natoli’s committee also lacked a quorum in October.)
Since its inception in the mid to late 1990s, the partnership between Chenango County and OFC has successfully secured $2.1 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The grants afforded assistance to 76 first time homebuyers and for 75 water and septic systems.
Moreover, CDBG funds were used to leverage alternative funding sources nearly 3 to 1, turning $2.1 million into $8.4 million, Viera said.
OFC’s reports show: 157 families achieved homeownership; 496 houses were rehabilitated; 800 were weatherized; 11,000 received Heating Energy Assistance Program funds through OFC; and 1,600 families received Earned Income Tax Credit assistance.
Viera said none of the program’s first-time homebuyers had fallen into foreclosure. Participants are required to take an extensive financing and budgeting course before receiving assistance, and homeowners must also contribute monetarily to the investment.
Natoli asked what she called “a very politically incorrect” question: “Do they maintain their properties afterward or just go back to how they were living before?”
Viera said “the vast majority” of homeowners in the programs maintain their properties.
“We teach them a whole new way of life, not just fix the physical structures. ... Many times, they apply for other programs we have, to continue to improve their lives. The system works; we protect our investment. The vast majority, I’m happy to say, we have had good success with.”
“When you consider what happens to a neighborhood when we come in and stop sewage from coming out into the road or onto the neighbor’s property, you can see that we change people’s lives and build communities,” said Viera.
There are more than 500 people currently on waiting list to receive applications for the two programs and 100 more waiting for their projects to get underway. Cashman said OFC receives 2 to 3 calls every week.
OFC requested to apply for $400,000 in septic and well replacement grants to serve 45 more households and $350,000 to help about 15 first time homebuyers.
“Every dollar you put in brings it right back to the community,” said the agency’s director. “CDBG money leveraged allows us to apply for other grants out there. It’s critical to what we do over the years.”
Natoli called for the committee to gather before next month’s full board of supervisors meeting in order to vote on the request. She also asked Cashman and his staff to make their presentation again before a meeting of the board at a later date. “Everyone needs to know about this. This is something very important that we do,” she said.
Town of Greene Supervisor Jack Cook said he would support next year’s grant requests. The supervisor from Plymouth also attended the meeting.
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