The State of Indiana has announced that a total of 223 communities across the state will receive more than $139 million in matching grants, including multiple communities in Boone County.
The Community Crossings Matching Grant funding is intended to enable communities across the state as they prepare for road reconstruction, bridge preservation, intersection improvements and more. State Representative Mark Genda shared his thoughts regarding Boone County’s receipt of funding this year.
“Not all smaller communities have the resources to take on large infrastructure projects or keep up with ongoing road maintenance,” Genda said. “With additional funding from the Community Crossings program, cities and towns can tackle more of these projects to keep their roadways safer.”
Boone County is poised to receive $1.1 million, Whitestown will receive $1.4 million, Lebanon will receive $211,781 and Advance will receive $211,781.
State Representative Jeff Thompson commented about the importance of continuing the disbursement of funding to Hoosier communities to ensure that roadways are continuously repaired and updated.
“The state has prioritized road funding for years now, resulting in safer roads and bridges and an improved quality of life for Hoosiers,” said Thompson, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee that’s responsible for crafting the state budget. “This focus makes Indiana a better place for families and businesses.”
To qualify for the competitive grant, smaller municipalities provide a 25% match in local funds, while larger communities provide a 50% match. State law requires 50% 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.
