By The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Twelve rural Indiana communities will share more than $8 million in federal grants to improve their water systems.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced the grants Thursday.

“These grants are vital to Indiana’s economic success as these projects should improve the quality of life in these rural communities,” Crouch said.

The state distributes grants to rural communities to help them with projects such as infrastructure improvement, public facilities and economic development.

Lawrenceburg, Sullivan and Edinburgh are receiving $600,000 each for flood drainage improvements.

Beech Grove is getting $600,000 for wastewater improvements. Carbon, Dana, Lapel, Leavenworth, New Market, Thorntown and Putnam County are getting $700,000 each for improvements.

Spurgeon was awarded $700,000 to construct a wastewater system.