NORWICH – Chenango County is one step closer to doling out $750,000 in state grant funds to help bolster home ownership across the county.

County officials have earmarked $350,000 to assist first-time homebuyers and $400,000 for the county's manufactured home replacement program, all of which will be administered by Opportunities for Chenango.

Funding is funneled through New York's Community Development Block Grant program, a $10 million statewide initiative targeted toward improving housing, economic development, public facilities, infrastructure, and planning activities.

The County Board of Supervisors called a public hearing last week to accept the two grants.

“It's obvious that our county needs this assistance and it can only improve the quality of life for first-time homebuyers and mobile home residents,” said Norwich resident Patti Giltner, one of just two people who spoke at the hearing.

But Giltner also showed concern for Chenango's future. She cited studies from the Chenango United Way and the Cornell Program on Applied Demographics which predict a 20 percent loss of population over the next 20 years. That, she said, will have a stirring impact on municipalities, school districts, and local services, and paints a “grim picture of the county.”

Giltner encouraged county leaders to be proactive to address the challenge.