The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service has determined its 2023 annual payments to counties in which National Forest System Lands occur.

In Indiana, the Hoosier National Forest administers land in nine counties including Jackson, Monroe, Brown, Lawrence, Orange, Martin, Dubois, Crawford and Perry, all of which will receive funding through the agency’s Secure Rural Schools Program.

Jackson County will be receiving $52,737, while Brown County is receiving $61,658, Lawrence County is receiving $26,204 and Monroe County is receiving $87,509.

The program was reauthorized for fiscal years 2021 through 2023 by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, according to a news release from the Forest Service.

The affected Indiana counties will receive a total of $234,729.73, while nationally, $232 million will be paid to 745 eligible counties in 41 states and Puerto Rico to support public schools, roads and other municipal services.

“The Secure Rural Schools program is just one of the ways the Forest Service supports communities nationwide,” said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “This funding aids schools and roads, reimburses counties for national forest emergency services and assists in creating community wildfire protection plans – all critical programs designed to enhance the quality of life in these communities.”

In addition to Secure Rural Schools payments, the Forest Service is using the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act funding to improve forest conditions, support local economies and create jobs by investing in forest restoration projects, road and trail maintenance, recreation opportunities and wood innovation development.

Over the past 10 years, the Forest Service has distributed $2.4 billion through the Secure Rural Schools program.

For payment information by county for this program, visit fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/ secure-rural-schools/payments.