NORWICH – After weighing the economy against community needs, local United Way officials have decided to keep their fundraising goal the same as last year: $465,000.

The 2009 Chenango United Way campaign officially begins Saturday. It runs until Dec. 31.

“We spent the summer talking to local businesses and business leaders, and decided to keep the goal flat,” said Bryne Lewis Alport, campaign director. “We’re trying to balance the impact of the economic slowdown with the increase in need” that’s arisen as a result.

Raising the goal could have been too taxing on those who donate, United Way Executive Director Elizabeth Monaco acknowledges. Lowering it, however, would be harmful to the roughly 30 non-profits that rely on funding from the organization, she said.

“We’re in a time when it’s hard for people to pay their own bills. But there are people in our community that have it even harder, especially now,” said Monaco. “It may be harder to give this year, but it’s also more important to give this year.”

The Chenango United Way is projecting that area non-profits and community programs will request approximately $900,000 in 2010. Campaign organizers hope to meet or exceed last year’s goal so they can cover at least half of what’s being asked for.

Donations have already been coming in. The campaign currently has $23,000 it’s received since the start of the year.

“Our county has a history of rising to the occasion and making sure people don’t fall through the cracks,” said Alport.

Co-Chairs of the 2009 Campaign are Amber Harrison of Norwich Pharmaceuticals and Lisa Colabelli of Frontier Communications. The campaign slogan is “Give. Advocate. Volunteer.”

Heat and electricity assistance, housing, health care and emergency services programs are areas where Monaco says the organization is seeing the most need locally.