STATEHOUSE (Nov. 8, 2024) – Vanderburgh County lawmakers said local communities will soon be on the move with more road and bridge projects with the help of recently released state funding.
Funding is available through Indiana’s Community Crossings Matching Grant Program, which can be used for road reconstruction, bridge preservation, intersection improvements and other projects. A total of 223 communities across the state will receive more than $139 million in state matching grants.
“The economic success of our local communities depends in part on having reliable infrastructure,” said State Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville). “These investments help us attract residents, businesses and economic opportunities to area, and we can continue to improve our quality of life.”
Area grant recipients include Evansville ($729,809) and Vanderburgh County ($809,506).
“Community Crossings grants help all types of communities improve local roads and increase connectivity,” said State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville). “To keep up with Southwest Indiana’s growth, it’s vital that we continue to invest in our infrastructure so that we can meet our needs now and in the future.”
“Our rural communities often do not have enough funding to tackle all of their infrastructure needs,” said State Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Patoka). “Community Crossings grants give them some budget flexibility so that they can make essential upgrades on their roads, bridges and more.”
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 $1.8 billion to improve local roads and bridges.
