Update: Community Crossings Matching Grant Projects

Earlier this year, the State of Indiana approved a list of streets to be paved and funded through Community Crossing Matching Grant Fund. This work has begun and will continue throughout the rest of the year. Please check the Board of Works and other posts for regular updates.

“These investments will keep our city moving forward,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “We appreciate the state’s assistance with these important road improvements, and we will continue to focus on making our roads the best in Indiana.”

NEW MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE LAUNCHES SATURDAY:

NEW MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE LAUNCHES SATURDAY:

Thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan, Indiana is now launching a “Indiana 988” hotline for mental health services.

“This is a great consolidation of local, state, and federal resources to improve mental health services right here in our River City,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “It is no secret that some of the homelessness and addiction concerns we face here in New Albany are rooted in mental health issues, and this is a good step in improving services for those who need it. I want to thank the State of Indiana and the American Rescue Plan for helping address the mental health needs of our community.”

On Saturday, 988 will go live in Indiana and around the United States as a new national three-digit dialing code to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In Indiana, Hoosiers experiencing mental health-related distress may call 988 to connect to a trained crisis specialist. Soon, that service will be expanded to include a response team and locations where people can go for help.

Indiana has also entered into a partnership to provide mental health services at pediatric primary care offices around the state, removing barriers to access. Through this partnership, mental health services will be embedded within primary pediatric care settings around the state of Indiana, directly addressing the growing child mental health crisis.

“One serious, lingering result of the COVID-19 pandemic that has been widely-recognized by experts all over the country is a worsening of our mental health crisis,” said Dan Rusyniak, M.D., FSSA secretary. “This major infusion of funds, spread throughout Indiana, will provide more access to mental health care, expand the mental health workforce, and invest in our state’s mental health infrastructure.”

More information about Indiana 988 can be found here: https://www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/update-on-988-in-indiana/

Summer Paving and Concrete Operations

SUMMER PAVING AND CONCRETE OPERATIONS:

The City of New Albany’s annual Street Improvement and Paving program will get into full gear this month. Crews will be mobilizing and shifting to full-time paving operations beginning later this month. Residents and business owners in affected paving areas will be notified by letter of upcoming work.

Concrete work is currently ongoing in the Pamela Drive neighborhood near the newly constructed bridge. Crews have begun saw cuts in driveways and have begun curb replacements throughout the neighborhood.

Main Street will also receive some patching work beginning next week as Indiana American Water crews continue to replace old water lines along the roadway.

Panera, Chipotle, Other Services Coming to State Street:

Panera, Chipotle, Other Services Coming to State Street:

Construction will begin soon on a new traffic signal on State Street near the Kroger Superstore. While construction is ongoing, crews will be working to keep one lane in each direction open at all times. Most of the construction is limited to daytime hours, but some paving construction will occur during night hours to keep inconveniences limited.

The new signal is being added to accommodate new business investments along State Street, including a Panera Bread, a Chipotle Mexican Grill, and another service provider.

Please be aware of ongoing construction and crews working in the roadway. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we complete this important infrastructure project.

NEW ALBANY INVESTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY

NEW ALBANY INVESTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY:

The City of New Albany is investing in public safety. A new Firehouse and new Police Headquarters are expected to begin construction this year.

“New Albany is a safe place to live and raise a family, and we are committed to making New Albany safer than it has ever been before,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan.

Construction will begin on the new firehouse in the former Sonic lot on Charlestown Road later this month. The new firehouse will replace the Twin Oaks fire station, which has served the neighborhood since 1964.

“Funds from the American Rescue Plan will allow us to replace an older fire station with a new modern, facility and continue providing excellent service for the surrounding neighborhood,” stated Fire Chief Matt Juliot.

The New Albany Redevelopment Commission has been seeking proposals for the construction of a new Police Headquarters. Currently, the New Albany Police Department operates out of the Criminal Justice Center located on Hauss Square. Floyd County officials announced in October of last year their intentions to renovate the Criminal Justice Center, and they have new plans for the space that the New Albany Police Department currently operates out of.

“The current location is too small to properly serve the needs of a modern police force, but this new headquarters will allow us to better train our officers, provide new services for the community, and increase our mental health and crisis response teams, among other benefits,” stated Police Chief Todd Bailey. “We are looking forward to taking the next steps in this process, including further discussions with the New Albany City Council.”

Draft rendering of NAPD Headquarters.

Draft rendering of NAPD Headquarters.

Draft rendering of NAPD Headquarters.

Draft rendering of NAFD Firehouse.