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States Looking At Indiana Use Of Disaster Funds

Last updated on Friday, February 24, 2012

(INDIANAPOLIS) - States that have recently received disaster funding are now taking notes from Indiana.

The Hoosier state shared models for disaster funding distribution as best practices last week at a federal Housing and Urban Development conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Indiana received an influx of over $400 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars after the state experienced a series of natural disasters in 2008.

Lt. Governor Becky Skillman says she hopes other states can use Indiana's model to bring the same benefit to their residents.

Some highlights of Indiana's CDBG Disaster Recovery Program include:

• 82 counties were eligible for infrastructure improvements including revitalization of dams and levees, improvements to drinking and sewer water systems as well as storm water drainage, and completion of various community development projects.

• Creation of 592 jobs through Disaster Recovery Economic Development program.

• Prevention of future flooding through forward thinking land use projects and mapping of high risk areas in partnership with several state and federal agencies.

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) administers Indiana's CDBG Disaster Recovery program. OCRA works with local, state, and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to aid rural communities in shaping their visions for community economic development.

For more information about the Office of Community and Rural Affairs or Indiana's CDBG Disaster Recovery program, please visit http://www.in.gov/ocra/2429.htm.

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