STATEHOUSE – Over $2.9 million is headed to communities in Lawrence and Orange counties to accelerate road and bridge improvements, according to State Rep. Chris May (R-Bedford).
May said the local funding from the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program is for road and bridge preservation, road reconstruction, intersection improvements, guardrail replacements, and signage, and can cover material costs for chip sealing and crack filling operations. In total, 229 towns, cities and counties will receive over $119 million in state matching grants.
“Indiana’s relationship with local governments on these projects has helped make our state the envy of the nation when it comes to infrastructure,” May said. “This program shows the benefits of working together, and the results are seen in the improvements being made to our roads and bridges.”
Area grant recipients include:
- Lawrence County, $707,699;
- Mitchell, $260,218;
- Oolitic, $51,400;
- Orleans, $274,743;
- Paoli, $841,035; and
- West Baden Springs, $847,646.
May said smaller municipalities provide a 25 percent match in local funds, while large communities provide a 50 percent match. State law requires 50 percent of the available matching funds to be awarded annually to communities within counties with a population of 50,000 or fewer. To date, Hoosier communities are on the receiving end of more than $1 billion in Community Crossings Matching Grants.
According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, which oversees and awards the grants, the next call for projects is expected in January. Awards are released two times a year. More information can be found at in.gov/indot/communitycrossings or by emailing LPAQuestions@indot.in.gov.
