diff --git a/src/app/models/project.py b/src/app/models/project.py
index 2a898e8..c1e082c 100644
--- a/src/app/models/project.py
+++ b/src/app/models/project.py
@@ -52,8 +52,18 @@ def get_project_by_id(projectid):
         projectid + "\"")
     cursor.execute(query)
     project = cursor.fetchall()
+    cursor.close()
     return project[0]
 
+def update_project_status(projectid, status):
+    cursor = db.cursor()
+    query = ("UPDATE projects SET project_status = \"" + status + 
+        "\" WHERE projectid = \"" + projectid + "\"")
+    print(query)
+    cursor.execute(query)
+    db.commit()
+    cursor.close()
+
 def get_projects_by_status_and_category(categoryid, project_status):
     """
     Retrieve all projects from a category with a specific status
@@ -69,6 +79,7 @@ def get_projects_by_status_and_category(categoryid, project_status):
         project_status + "\" AND categoryid = \"" + categoryid + "\"")
     cursor.execute(query)
     projects = cursor.fetchall()
+    cursor.close()
     return projects
 
 def get_projects_by_owner(userid):
diff --git a/src/app/views/apply.py b/src/app/views/apply.py
index 222620a..f589312 100644
--- a/src/app/views/apply.py
+++ b/src/app/views/apply.py
@@ -60,7 +60,8 @@ class Apply:
                             for applicant in applicants:
                                 print("Add", applicant, data.projectid)
                                 models.project.set_projects_user(data.projectid, str(applicant[0]), "TRUE", "TRUE", "FALSE")
-                            raise web.seeother(('/project?projectid=' + data.projectid))
+                                models.project.update_project_status(data.projectid, "in progress")
+                            raise web.seeother(('/project?projectid=' + str(data.projectid)))
                     except Exception as e:
                         raise
 
diff --git a/src/app/views/index.py b/src/app/views/index.py
index 2131610..20f0cc6 100644
--- a/src/app/views/index.py
+++ b/src/app/views/index.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ class Index:
             project_bulk_one = models.project.get_projects_by_status_and_owner(str(session.userid), "open")
             project_bulk_two = models.project.get_projects_by_status_and_owner(str(session.userid), "in progress")
         elif data.projects == 'customer':
+            # TODO: Can customer projects be open?
             project_bulk_one = models.project.get_projects_by_participant_and_status(str(session.userid), "open")
             project_bulk_two = models.project.get_projects_by_participant_and_status(str(session.userid), "in progress")
         elif data.projects == 'finished':