(Westport, IN) – Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) say a local community is one of 15 across the state to receive more than $10.2 million in federal grant funding to expand local facilities, improve water infrastructure and eliminate blight.
The Town of Westport has been awarded $441,679 in Community Development Block Grant funds to rehabilitate its only elevated water storage tank as part of the Wastewater/Drinking Water program.
The goals of that initiative are to protect resident and environmental health, reduce utility rates for low-to-moderate income communities, and improve rural infrastructure to enable long-term economic growth.
“This funding empowers local leaders to address long-standing infrastructure needs and create safer, more vibrant places for families and businesses,” Beckwith said. “This reflects Indiana’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the foundation of our rural communities and ensuring all Hoosiers have the resources they need to thrive.”
OCRA distributes Community Development Block Grant funds to rural communities, which assist units of local government with various community projects such as infrastructure improvement, downtown revitalization, public facilities and economic development.
“Congratulations to these 15 communities for successfully earning this grant funding,” OCRA Executive Director Fred Glynn said. “There is a clear commitment from local leaders to improve the quality of life for their residents.”
Funding for OCRA’s CDBG programs originates from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program and is administered for the State of Indiana by OCRA.
For more information, visit in.gov/ocra/cdbg.
