STATEHOUSE (April 30, 2021) – Indiana recently awarded more than $3.2 million in state matching grants to local communities for road and bridge improvements, according to Elkhart County lawmakers.
Through the Community Crossings Matching Grant program, 218 Hoosier cities, towns and counties received a combined total of over $100 million. The Indiana Department of Transportation oversees and distributes these grants twice each year.
"These grants are the result of forward-thinking and strategic investments in critical infrastructure that keep our economy running," said State Rep. Doug Miller (R-Elkhart). "As the RV Capital of the World, many people rely on our roads and bridges, and we want to continue attracting more visitors and economic development to Elkhart County."
Elkhart County received $1 million for local road and bridge projects. In addition, the following communities received a grant:
"With construction season in full swing, it's a great time to announce additional infrastructure funding is coming to our county," said State Rep. Joanna King (R-Middlebury). "While all the orange cones and lane changes can be a temporary pain, updates and maintenance make our roads safer, and infrastructure investments help attract new employers and boost the local economy."
Communities can use these funds for road and bridge preservation, road reconstruction, intersection improvements, guardrail replacements and signage. Smaller municipalities must provide a 25 percent match in local funds, while large communities must provide a 50 percent match.
"This grant program is a game-changer for smaller communities that may not have been able to make infrastructure improvements otherwise," said State Rep. Tim Wesco (R-Osceola). "As Indiana continues to invest in its future, we want to make sure every community is a part of the state's success story."
More than $931 million in total has been awarded throughout the state since 2016. State law requires that 50 percent of the available matching funds be awarded annually to communities within counties with a population of 50,000 or fewer.
"These grants exclusively cover the costs of road and bridge projects so that our infrastructure lasts for years to come," said State Rep. Curt Nisly (R-Milford).
More information about the program and recipients can be found online at in.gov/indot/communitycrossings. The next call for projects through Community Crossings will open in July 2021.
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State Rep. Doug Miller (R-Elkhart) represents House District 48,which includes portions of Elkhart County.
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State Rep. Joanna King (R-Middlebury) represents House District 49,which includes the eastern portion of Elkhart County.
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State Rep. Tim Wesco (R-Osceola) represents House District 21,which includes portions of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties.
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State Rep. Curt Nisly (R-Milford) represents House District 22,which includes portions of Kosciusko and Elkhart counties.
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