STATEHOUSE (April 10, 2024) – Bartholomew County and Columbus can roll forward with road and bridge projects thanks to a recent boost in state funding supported by area legislators.
A total of 252 communities across the state will receive over $207 million through Indiana's Community Crossings Matching Grant Program. Bartholomew County will receive $1.5 million and Columbus will receive more than $1.4 million. Funds can be used for road and bridge preservation, road reconstruction, intersection improvements and other items.
"Hoosiers and businesses alike rely on safe and reliable roads," said State Rep. Ryan Lauer (R-Columbus), vice chair of the House Roads and Transportation Committee. "These state grants are a great opportunity for communities of all sizes to tackle much-needed road repairs and build for the future."
"Whether you're going to work or school, the quality of our infrastructure matters," said State Rep. Jennifer Meltzer (R-Shelbyville). "This funding helps our communities stretch local dollars further and move ahead on improvements faster than they could otherwise."
To qualify for the competitive grant, smaller municipalities provide a 25 percent match in local funds, while larger 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. Since 2016, Community Crossings has awarded more than $1.6 billion to improve local roads and bridges.
"Businesses both small and large need and rely on Indiana's roads, because they're what keep our economy moving," said State Rep. Jim Lucas (R-Seymour). "We know that the cost of everything, including road maintenance, continues to go up, so these state dollars are really coming at a critical time. I look forward to seeing more improvements in our area."
Visit in.gov/indot/communitycrossings and click on "Community Crossings Matching Grant" to learn more about the program.
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State Rep. Ryan Lauer (R-Columbus) represents House District 59,
which includes a portion of Bartholomew County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Jim Lucas (R-Seymour) represents House District 69,
which includes portions of Bartholomew, Jackson, Scott and Washington counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Jennifer Meltzer (R-Shelbyville) represents House District 73,
which includes portions of Bartholomew, Decatur, Jennings and Shelby counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
