Pictured from left to right: Former Mayor of New Berlin Terry Potter, Chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors George Seneck, President and CEO of Commerce Chenango Kerri Green, County Planning Director Shane Butler, Senator Chuck Schumer, Chenango County Farm Bureau President Brad Vickers, UHS Spokesperson Melissa Stagnaro, Norwich City Schools Superintendent Scott Ryan, and Interconnect Wireless Co-Owner Shawn Smith. (Photo by Sarah Giglio)

NORWICH — Arriving at the Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport in Norwich, Tuesday, United States Senator for New York Chuck Schumer met with several local leaders at Commerce Chenango.

Present at the meeting was President and CEO of Commerce Chenango Kerri Green, Chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors George Seneck, County Planning Director Shane Butler, representatives from Interconnect Wireless, and a number of other officials

The topic of the afternoon was the $9.1 million in funds provided to Chenango County through the American Rescue Plan, and how they may be used. Areas needing assistance ranged from mental health help in schools to loss of revenue in the dairy industry.

"You're supposed to get $9.1 million. And that went to the county, the City of Norwich 720,000 [dollars] ... The Town of Oxford gets 400,000 [dollars], Town of Greene 550,000 [dollars]," said Schumer.

Most prominent in the discussion, however, was the need for reliable and affordable internet access.

Chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors George Seneck addressed the cyber attack that occurred in October 2020, and how the county has not yet fully recovered.