STATEHOUSE (Dec. 6, 2022) – More than $900,000 is headed to Howard County communities to accelerate road and bridge improvements, according to State Reps. Mike Karickhoff (R-Kokomo) and Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo).
Karickhoff 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.
"With key economic development projects like the new electric-vehicle battery manufacturing facility in Kokomo and the Marion Metal Center, these investments are critical to ensuring our roads keep up with area growth," Karickhoff said. "Updating our roads and bridges will help drive our economy, and keep everyone on our roads safer."
Howard County received $323,812 and Greentown received $605,559.
VanNatter 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 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.
"This program is a game-changer for communities that may not be able to make infrastructure improvements otherwise," VanNatter said. "As Indiana continues investing in its future, we want to make sure every community is a part of our success."
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.
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State Rep. Mike Karickhoff (R-Kokomo) represents House District 30,
which includes portions of Grant and Howard counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo) represents House District 38,
which includes all of Carroll and Tipton counties, and
portions of Cass, Clinton, Howard and Tippecanoe counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
