STATEHOUSE (April 16, 2020) – Pike County legislators said local communities were recently awarded over $1 million in state matching grants to bolster road and bridge improvements.
According to State Rep. Ron Bacon (R-Chandler), over 200 Indiana cities, towns and counties received a combined total of $126.5 million through the Community Crossings Matching Grant program. The grants are made available through the Indiana Department of Transportation as a result of a law passed in 2017.
"When Indiana made this commitment to improve our infrastructure, a number of possibilities opened up for communities, especially in more rural areas of the state," Bacon said. "With this funding, local road repairs can be completed, which make our roads safer and more efficient."
Pike County received $782,303, Petersburg was awarded $142,874 and Winslow received $105,596 for local road projects.
State Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Fort Branch) said grant funding can be used toward road and bridge preservation, road reconstruction, intersection improvements, guardrail replacements and signage. Smaller municipalities must provide a match of 25% in local funds, while large communities must provide a 50% match.
"Roads connect Hoosiers, businesses and visitors across the state, and are vital to our economy," Hostettler said. "Without this extra funding, local communities may not be able to make these improvements that help keep our cities and towns thriving."
In total, more than $738 million has been distributed for local road projects through the Community Crossings program. According to State Rep. Shane Lindauer (R-Jasper), 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.
"To maintain our roads throughout the year, it takes tremendous resources and funding," Lindauer said. "The Community Crossings grant program helps fuel local economies by helping to improve our infrastructure, which can attract more businesses and talent, and boost our quality of life."
An estimated $100 million will be available for communities opting to apply for these grants during the July 2020 call for projects. More information about the program and recipients can be found at www.in.gov/indot.
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State Rep. Ron Bacon (R-Chandler) represents House District 75,
which includes portions of Warrick, Pike and Spencer counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Fort Branch) represents House District 64,
which includes Gibson County and portions of Knox, Pike, Vanderburgh and Posey counties.
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State Rep. Shane Lindauer (R- Jasper) represents House District 63,
which includes portions of Daviess, Dubois, Pike and Martin counties.
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