OFC: $30 Million Investment In Chenango Since 1998
Published: November 26th, 2008
By: Melissa deCordova

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.

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“I don’t know where the lack of enthusiasm is,” she said. (Natoli’s committee also lacked a quorum in October.)

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