LCRA awards $19,823 grant to Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department

 

New concrete road will improve emergency access, community safety

MAY 1, 2025

LCRA representatives present a $19,823 grant to the Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department for a new concrete entrance into its fire station. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Cooper Hogg, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Billy Bledsoe, Coleman County judge; Terry Brown, VFD president; Scott Raines, VFD vice president; Carol Freeman, LCRA Board member; Ricky Davis, VFD fire chief; Grady Laws, VFD assistant fire chief; and Hubert Todd, VFD firefighter.
COLEMAN COUNTY, Texas – The Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department soon will install a new concrete entrance into its fire station from State Highway 153 to help ensure faster, safer emergency responses, thanks to a $19,823 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The LCRA Community Development Partnership Program grant, combined with $5,592 in matching funds from the VFD, will allow the department to replace its washed-out caliche entrance with a durable, all-weather surface that can withstand heavy rain. The improvement will protect fire trucks, expedite emergency responses and improve access for the community during local events such as the department’s annual fish fry fundraiser.

“This project is a real blessing for our department,” said Terry Brown, president of the Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department. “Right now, our entrance is all caliche, and when it rains, it cuts out sometimes as deep as a foot. We have trucks that aren’t four-wheel drive, and it can be a real challenge to get out during a medical call or a fire. Time counts when you’re going to an emergency, and this concrete entrance will help us get on the road faster when every second matters.”

Without the grant funding, the department would have had to pay for the improved ingress and egress out of pocket, a challenge for a small, all-volunteer fire department that already works hard to raise funds for its emergency response equipment.

“This grant will benefit not just our department, but also the other fire departments we assist through mutual aid during fires, floods and other emergencies,” Brown said. “We’re very thankful to LCRA for helping us serve our community and providing the funding to make this project happen.”

The Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department serves Glen Cove and supports neighboring communities across Coleman County and surrounding counties.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July 2025. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.

About LCRA

The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations.

Contact Info

Clara Tuma, Public Information Officer
512-578-3292
[email protected]
After hours: 512-944-6719