Greencroft Communities Stories

Some things are worth waiting for.

The time between applying for a grant and receiving funding can stretch from one to two years, depending on the program. But when it comes to federal transportation grants, patience pays off.

In September 2026, Greencroft Goshen received a new eight-passenger bus with a wheelchair lift through the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) FY2025 Section 5310 Grant Program. The vehicle replaces an aging minivan that had exceeded its useful life. 

More transportation upgrades are on the way! Southfield Village is expected to receive a new eight-passenger bus through the FY2026 Section 5310 Grant Program in late 2026 or early 2027. Because Southfield Village is in South Bend, its grant was administered through the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG). 

The good news continues. Two new minivans awarded through the INDOT FY2026 grant program are scheduled for delivery to Greencroft Goshen in fall 2027. 

Together, the four new vehicles will strengthen Greencroft's transportation fleet by replacing three aging minivans and one bus. The additions will help ensure residents continue to have safe, reliable transportation for medical appointments, shopping, community outings, and other essential trips. 

What is the Section 5310 Grant Program? 

The Federal Transit Administration's Section 5310 program provides funding to improve mobility for older adults and people with disabilities, including the purchase of accessible vehicles. 

In rural areas, INDOT administers the program and covers 85% of the cost of eligible vehicles. In the South Bend urbanized area, MACOG oversees the program, with federal funding covering 80% of vehicle costs. 

Eligible applicants include private nonprofit organizations and authorized units of local government that provide transportation services. 

While we were waiting... 

While grant applications were making their way through the approval process at INDOT and MACOG, two other grantmakers stepped in to help meet urgent transportation needs at Greencroft Goshen and Southfield Village. 

In December 2025, the Community Foundation of Elkhart County awarded a grant covering half the cost to replace the engine in one of Greencroft Goshen's aging minivans, helping keep the vehicle on the road. 

In August 2026, the Greencroft Communities Foundation awarded Southfield Village a grant to help purchase a new 15-passenger activity bus.

The road to new vehicles may have been a long one, but Greencroft wasn't traveling it alone. Thanks to the partnership of federal, regional, and local grantmakers, the wheels kept turning, and they're set to keep turning well into the future.