Nearly $50 million is headed to the Northern San Joaquin Valley to help people buy and renovate foreclosed homes. Individual home buyers, real estate investors and contractors can get chunks of this federal money this spring to help them purchase, fix up and occupy foreclosed homes.

Do you want to know ways you can get a piece of the federal money headed to Stanislaus County to stabilize neighborhoods? The Bee and the City of Modesto are sponsoring a program that will help you do so.

Millions of dollars in very-low-interest home loans for down payments or repairs will be offered this spring and summer. But before residents can qualify to receive those federal funds, they must attend training workshops to ensure they are prepared to be homeowners.