STATEHOUSE (Dec. 11, 2020) – Owen County recently received $94,151 in state matching grants for road and bridge improvements, according to State Reps. Bob Heaton (R-Terre Haute) and Beau Baird (R-Greencastle).
Over 240 Indiana cities, towns and counties received a combined total of more than $101 million through the Community Crossings Matching Grant program, which was created through a 2016 law supported by Heaton. Grants are made available through the Indiana Department of Transportation.
"Preserving our roads and bridges is important to carry on Indiana's reputation as the Crossroads of America," Heaton said. "Because of the substantial costs involved, many local towns and counties could fall behind on critical projects without the support of this state program."
Baird said this funding can be used 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.
"Infrastructure maintenance and improvements can often consume a large portion of local budgets," Baird said. "With this partnership, we're able to fund critical repairs and development throughout our area, without communities having to choose between road projects and covering other public services."
In total, more than $830 million has been distributed for local road projects through the Community Crossings program. State law requires annually that 50 percent of the available matching funds be awarded to communities within counties with a population of 50,000 or fewer.
More information about the program and recipients can be found online at in.gov/indot/communitycrossings.
-30-
State Rep. Bob Heaton (R-Terre Haute) represents House District 46,
which includes portions of Clay, Monroe, Owen and Vigo counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) represents House District 44, which includes
all of Putnam County and portions of Clay, Morgan, Owen and Parke counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
