By Tim Vandenack, Truth Staff
tvandenack@etruth.com
ELKHART -- The mad scramble is under way.
With federal lawmakers finalizing plans for a multibillion dollar stimulus package to create jobs and jump start the nation's economy, local officials have started jockeying to assure their communities a piece of the pie.
"There should be some opportunity to fund some things that we haven't been able to fund in the past," said John Letherman, president of the Elkhart County Council.
Upgrading the sewer and stormwater systems in Elkhart, Goshen and Nappanee seems to figure high on the list of projects for which officials want to secure funding. Other possibilities include planned upgrades to C.R. 17 south of C.R. 28 on the west side of Goshen and numerous other road projects around the county.
Whatever the case, with interest high to tap into any funding -- local officials from across northern Indiana packed into a gathering here Friday with U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly to discuss the matter -- there will be no blank checks.
Jodi Coblentz of the Indiana Department of Transportation said her office has already received around 800 project proposals from communities hoping to access any stimulus funding. The U.S. House version of the stimulus package -- still being debated by the U.S. Senate -- includes nearly $1 billion for Indiana road and transportation projects, and INDOT would likely decide where to distribute the money.
Not all of them will likely get money, though. She said guidelines to vet project proposals still have to be pinned down, but that readiness of individual plans will likely figure big in whether they get money.
Other important factors will be the state of the local economy (distressed communities may get more emphasis), and making sure funding is distributed equitably around Indiana.