Local lawmakers: State sends over $2.7M to accelerate local road improvements

Posted by: Charles Melton  | Wednesday, December 7, 2022

STATEHOUSE (Dec. 7, 2022) – More than $2.7 million is headed to local communities to accelerate road and bridge improvements, according to local legislators.

State Rep. Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown) 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.

"Partnerships between state and local officials help our programs reach more people, and these matching grants are a great example," Engleman said. "By working with cities, towns and communities, Indiana is able to help improve the quality of life for Hoosiers."

Local grant recipients include:

  • Crawford County, $614,348;
  • Floyd County, $951,227;
  • Corydon, $80,719;
  • Greenville, $136,816;
  • New Pekin, $186,785; and
  • Salem, $799,944.

State Rep. Jim Lucas (R-Seymour) 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, established in 2016 and expanded through laws supported by Lucas, Engleman and State Rep. Chris May (R-Bedford).

"Many of us rely on our state's transportation infrastructure, and count on it to be safe and functioning," Lucas said. "From transporting goods to getting to the office and school, local roads play a vital role in our daily lives, and these grants help our local communities maintain and improve them."

"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."

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. Stephen Bartels (R-Eckerty) represents House District 74, which includes
all of Crawford, Perry and Spencer counties, and portions of Dubois and Orange counties.
Click here for a high resolution photo.

State Rep. Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown) represents House District 70,
which
includes all of Harrison County, and portions of Clark, Floyd and Washington counties.
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State Rep. Jim Lucas (R-Seymour) represents House District 69,
which includes portions of Bartholomew, Jackson, Scott and Washington counties.
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here to download a high-resolution photo.

State Rep. Chris May (R-Bedford) represents House District 65,
which includes all of Lawrence County, and portions of Jackson, Orange and Washington counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.