Crouch announces 17 communities to receive $10M

Jefferson County was awarded $500,000 to replace the fire station used by the Deputy Volunteer Fire Department

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch along with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced that 17 rural Hoosier communities receive more than $10.5 million in federal grant funding. 

“These collaborations between federal, state and local partners are improving the lives of Hoosiers across the state and strengthening community pride,” Crouch said. “ I applaud this round’s local leadership for their commitment to bettering their communities, as well as their tremendous use of partnerships to address a challenge.”

The state of Indiana distributes Community Development Block Grant funds to rural communities to assist units of local government with various community projects such as: infrastructure improvement, downtown revitalization, public facilities and economic development. 

“We’re thrilled to support such a diverse array of projects in cities and towns throughout rural Indiana,” said Jodi Golden, Executive Director of OCRA. “Communities with reliable infrastructure are positioned for growth and an improved quality of life.” 

The goals of the Public Facilities Program are to improve the quality of place, generate jobs and spur economic revitalization through improving community facilities or historic preservation projects. Eligible community facilities include fire stations, community centers, daycares, libraries, museums, senior centers and performance spaces. 

Jefferson County was awarded $500,000 to replace the fire station used by the Deputy Volunteer Fire Department that was destroyed by fire in December 2018. The project builds an 8,254 square foot station with four bays, training and community rooms to meet the current and future needs of the community.