Through the efforts of Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Transportation (DOT), Indiana’s Next Level Roads: Community Crossings Initiative recently awarded $150 million in state-matching funds to 396 communities throughout the state.
“Superior local roads are a key factor in maintaining Indiana’s reputation as the Crossroads of America,” Holcomb said. “I am encouraged that a record number of communities applied for and received funds this year, and I’m grateful to lawmakers for increasing the funding to sustain the community crossings initiative.”
Indiana’s General Assembly created the initiative for bridge and road projects. This year, 467 cities, towns and counties applied for funds, a 48 percent increase from last year; 2016 was the first-time funds were offered.
To qualify, communities must submit an asset management plan approved by the Indiana DOT for the maintenance of existing infrastructure. In addition, communities must be able to provide matching funds: 25 percent for smaller communities and 50 percent for larger ones.
Communities with populations less than 50,000 received 50 percent of the available matching funds in accordance with state law.
The largest project awards were $1 million to the city of Jasper, $887,499 to the town of Monrovia, and $881,662 to the town of Greentown.
For 2018, $190 million will be available, the DOT estimates.