NORWICH – The City of Norwich and Opportunities for Chenango are getting the word out about a federal program geared toward low income and elderly homeowners throughout the area.

In the effort to help low income homeowners maintain their home, the City of Norwich and OFC are conduits of the Section 504 Loan and Grant Program, a federal program administered through the United Stated Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA-RD) that offers low-interest loans to help with repairs, improvements or modernization of homes.

The program first became available in September to very low income and elderly residents in the rural areas of Onondaga, Tompkins, Cortland, Chenango, Tioga, Broome and Cayuga counties.

“The loan itself is usually considered for any reasonable repair, such as roof replacement, heating system repair, electric work, insulation or plumbing,” explained Norwich City Community Development Specialist Todd Dreyer. “Those are typically major focus areas when applicants are being considered.”