INDIANAPOLIS - State lawmakers from NE Indiana are encouraging local communities to
apply for grants to help fund local road and bridge projects.

The Community Crossings Matching Grant Program helps cities, towns and counties fund local
infrastructure projects through preservation, road construction, intersection improvements, guardrail
replacements and with signage.

Zent says roads and bridges are absolutely critical to keeping Indiana's economy moving. He says investing in roads and bridges pays dividends for Hoosiers by improving quality of life, and attracting jobs and economic development opportunities.

Hoosier communities are eligible for a state match up to $1 million annually, and the Indiana
Department of Transportation opens applications twice a year. Due to COVID-19, this year's second
round of calls for projects was postponed in July. However, Governor Eric Holcomb recently announced that the matching grant program will resume and the new application deadline is October 23.

Counties with fewer than 50,000 residents and cities and towns with less than 10,000 residents contribute 25 percent of the matching funds, with larger communities contributing 50 percent.

Abbott says these matching grants allow many of the small communities to complete projects they wouldn't otherwise be able to do. Local governments should take advantage of this program whenever possible, and it's a process that can be completed online.

Local governments can apply for the program by going to in dot gov slash indot slash 4013. Forms are due by 5 PM on Friday, October 23.