HANCOCK COUNTY — Some communities in Hancock County may receive an unexpected boost to their roads funding with the return of the Community Crossings matching grant program, while others are still completing work from the last round of the grant.
The program, which has come to be a major source of funding for municipalities, typically holds two cycles each year. The Indiana Department of Transportation postponed the year’s second round of calls for projects in July due to tax revenue shortfalls associated with COVID-19, and many expected the grant would not return until 2021. However, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced on Sept. 16 that it would return this fall.
“Supporting local communities by investing in transportation infrastructure is vital as we get Indiana back on track in the face of COVID-19,” Holcomb said in a news release. “I’m pleased that we’re advancing the Community Crossings program at this time to partner with cities, towns and counties to deliver on needed projects and provide a boost to local job creators.”
New Palestine town employee Steve Pool, who coordinates road grants, said the town is evaluating what street projects are the highest priority and plans to apply for funding.
“It’s a 75-25 match for us this year, so we’d like to take advantage of that,” Pool said.
New Palestine used money received in the previous round of funding to complete paving and mill and curb work around the community.
In McCordsville, director of planning and building Ryan Crum is also planning to submit an application and is working to identify which projects represent the highest need.
Tyler Rankins, the Greenfield street commissioner, said the city is not able to afford taking on a portion of another matching grant right now; the department is still finishing work on projects from last year’s Community Crossings cycle.
Hancock County engineer Gary Pool said the county highway department has received the maximum amount of funding from the program for this year, nearly $1 million.
With a 50% match, the county spent a total of nearly $2 million on improvements funded through the grant, including much of the microsurfacing that has been completed in county neighborhoods. The program also funded the complete resurfacing of County Road 600W between U.S. 40 and Interstate 70.
Pool said he hopes to see two fully funded grant cycles next year as well.
“The second 2021’s come out, I’ll be applying,” he said.
Cumberland public works director Benjamin Lipps said the town also does not intend to apply for funding this cycle and is working on projects from the previous grant. The town received funding to re-pave the heavily trafficked Valley Brook Drive and rehabilitate 18 other road segments.
Hancock County received $996,220 in Community Crossings money for the first round of 2020. New Palestine received $112,158; and Cumberland received $774,522.
During this round of funding, $68 million will be available for projects. The amount combines currently available revenue with revenue anticipated during the first three months of the 2021 fiscal year.
The Community Crossings grant is funded by a fuel tax increase that was approved in 2017. It is part of Holcomb’s 20-year “Next Level Roads” program, which aims to improve infrastructure around the state, and is open to all units of local government in Indiana.
INDOT commissioner Joe McGuinness said in a news release that state and local partnerships are a part of the fight to recover from the economic downturn caused by COVID-19.
“Moving forward with this call for projects ensures that local officials can keep their commitments to improving roads and bridges in every corner of Indiana,” McGuinness said.