State funding hits the road for local infrastructure improvements

Jefferson County could continue on more road projects with this lastest funding

STATEHOUSE (Nov. 7, 2024) – State Reps. Alex Zimmerman (R-North Vernon) and Zach Payne (R-Charlestown) said Jefferson County will soon be on the move with more road and bridge projects with the help of $1.5 million in 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.

"Hoosiers need and deserve reliable and efficient roads," Zimmerman said. "This state funding is critical for rural communities like ours that often have limited resources to keep up with infrastructure maintenance and plan for the future."

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.

"One of our top priorities is to make sure our roads are safe and efficient," Payne said. "By working with local officials, the state can help put funding into our local roads and bridges, meaning safer travels for all Hoosiers."

Visit in.gov/indot/communitycrossings and click on "Community Crossings Matching Grant" to learn more about the program.