Windfall makes a big difference

What a windfall.

And the wind itself helped it happen.

Last week’s news that a raft of paving projects have been approved via Indiana’s Community Crossings program sets up 2019 as the year of asphalt locally.

Villages like Salamonia and Bryant are going to see paving work that — given their traditional traffic volume — could be expected to last for decades. 

And similar projects — in Dunkirk and Portland and Pennville and the rural parts of the county — won approval across the board.

No doubt about it, $2.25 million is one heck of a lot of money.

But those grants came with a requirement for a local match, and that’s where the wind itself played a role.

For many of the projects, the local match will come directly from economic development dollars related to NextEra Energy Resources’ Bluff Point Wind Energy Center.

Working with Jay County Commissioners, community developer Ami Huffman was able to leverage the NextEra money as match for Community Crossings.

The result: Dramatic improvements ahead for local infrastructure in the next 12 months.

It’s a great example of opportunity and creativity coming together to make good things happen.

In other words, it’s smart decision-making by local leaders that will make a difference for decades. — J.R.