(INDIANAPOLIS) – Several Northeast Indiana communities are receiving more money for road and bridge projects because of recently released state funding.

State Representatives David Abbott of Rome City and Ben Smaltz of Auburn say the 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.

Abbott says ensuring that transportation routes are able to be maintained and upgraded will allow for future growth. He says people rely on having safe and functional roadways every day, which is why these matching grants are key for smaller communities to address their infrastructure needs effectively.

Area grant recipients include Angola ($1.3 million); Ashley ($210,000)l; Auburn ($1 million); Cromwell ($337,500); Steuben County ($471,817); Fremont ($216,080); DeKalb County ($1.5 million); Garrett ($737,400); Hudson ($150,000); Kendallville ($531,384); Ligonier ($1.4 million); Shipshewana ($1.5 million); Topeka ($300,593) and Waterloo ($1.4 million).

Smaltz, a member of the Indiana House Ways And Means Committee, says these grants enable our communities to make significant investments in local infrastructure, which is essential to attracting and retaining residents, businesses and jobs.