NORWICH – A minimum of 20 dilapidated mobile and manufactured homes in Chenango County are being targeted for a replacement program offered via state and local housing agencies.

County lawmakers agreed to apply for a $400,000 community development block grant from the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation Office of Community Renewal. The funding would be used as leverage for a $500,000 Opportunities For Chenango, Inc. manufactured home repacement intitiatve.

The state grant has in the past funded home ownership and well and septic programs for OFC.

The first of two public hearings on the county’s application will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Board of Supervisors Chambers in the County Office Building in Norwich. A second required public hearing is set for 11 a.m. Monday, March 8.

OFC Housing Services Chief Executive Officer Wayne H. Viera said there were more than 140 sub-standard mobile (pre-1976) and manufactured (post 1976) homes on a list, and that the agency would be surveying them for the new energy-efficient manufactured structures. The occupants must be owners of the structure, it must be their primary residence, they must meet income eligibilty requirements, and also own the land on which the home is sited. The existing unit being replaced will be permanently decommissioned and disposed.