Putnam County and Fillmore will receive a combined total of more than $1.2 million in state matching grants for road and bridge improvement projects, according to State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle).
In total, more than 220 towns, cities and counties will receive over $107 million in state funding through the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program. Funds, awarded twice a year, are for road and bridge preservation, road reconstruction, intersection improvements, guardrail replacements and signage, and can cover material costs for chip sealing and crack filling operations.
"Community Crossings is a prime example of what can be accomplished when state and local government work together," said Baird, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. "These partnerships have helped revitalize so many parts of Indiana, and will continue to do so for years to come."**
Area grant recipients include Putnam County $1 million and Fillmore $227,394.
As part of the grant program, smaller municipalities provide a 25 percent match in local funds, while large 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. To date, Hoosier communities are on the receiving end of more than $1 billion in Community Crossings Matching Grants.
According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, which oversees and awards the grants, the next call for projects is expected in July.
