Governor Eric J. Holcomb and INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness today announced 396 Indiana cities, towns and counties received a combined $150 million in state-matching funds for local road projects through the Next Level Roads: Community Crossings Initiative.
A large chunk of that money will be spend in the Seymour district, which includes Salem, Campbellsburg, Scottsburg, and many other cities and towns in the WSLM Listening Area.
Lawrence County will receive $596,062 and Orange County will receive $477,961. In addition, various communities within these and Clark, Harrison, Jackson and Washington counties were awarded grants including $786,000 for the City of Salem and $310,195 for the Town of Campbellsburg.
Salem Mayor Troy Merry said the money would be used for road projects and repaving.
“I’m so grateful to INDOT for getting this grant,” said Merry. “We’ll use the money on things that need to be kept up in the city. 100 percent of that will go to keep the City streets in good working condition.”
Merry said money this year went to paving High Street from north to south as well as other streets in Salem. He said if funds are available next year he would like to pave Main Street from the stop light and around the square.
The full list of communities receiving matching funds was released this afternoon following the first in a series of presentations being held around the state with local, state and business officials to highlight award-winning grant applications.
“Superior local roads are a key factor in maintaining Indiana’s reputation as the Crossroads of America,” Gov. 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.”
In just its second year, the Community Crossings
State Rep. Steve Davisson (R-Salem) supported this funding initiative back in 2016.
“Funding provided through this program will help local governments make the necessary repairs and updates to roads and bridges,” Davisson said. “These improvements will keep our transportation infrastructure efficient and safe.”
“Across Indiana, local communities are recognizing the need to invest in fixing and improving their infrastructure,” said INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness. “The projects funded today will help build smoother roads and stronger bridges in every corner of the state.”
Community Crossings was created by the Indiana General Assembly in 2016. Funds for the program are awarded from the state’s local road and bridge matching grant fund. To qualify for funding, local governments must provide local matching funds, 50 percent for larger communities or 25 percent for smaller communities, from a funding source approved for road and bridge construction. They must also submit an INDOT-approved asset management plan for maintaining existing roads and bridges.
State law requires annually that 50 percent of the available matching funds be awarded to communities with a population of 50,000 or fewer. State lawmakers identified long-term funding for Community Crossings as part of House Enrolled Act 1002, passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Holcomb in April.
INDOT estimates $190 million in matching funds will be available for local communities in calendar year 2018.
