LCRA awards more than $985,000 in community grants
Funding for 46 projects will help first responders, community centers and more
across LCRA’s service area
Jan. 5, 2023
The grants will help fund 46 community projects, including a brush truck for the Giddings Volunteer Fire Department; a new irrigation system and fencing at a popular public park near the Menard County courthouse; and upgrades including energy-efficient lighting and safer playing surfaces at youth sports facilities in Matagorda, Mills and Wharton counties.
LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said the grants support projects that make a difference in communities across LCRA’s service territory.
“We’re proud to support local communities by helping fund capital projects that help make life better and support continued economic development,” Wilson said. “These grants represent an investment in the present and future of these communities.”
Almost half of the recently awarded grants will assist first responders, including providing new or refurbished emergency vehicles, new personal protective equipment and other critical resources such as a helipad, life-saving medical devices and rescue tools.
“To help safeguard their communities, first responders need reliable, safe vehicles and up-to-date protective gear and equipment,” Wilson said. “LCRA is pleased that these grants will assist first responders and help them to operate safely and effectively.”
To date, LCRA has awarded 1,934 community grants totaling almost $50 million. When combined with more than $233 million in community-raised matching funds, the program has invested more than $283 million in local communities.
The 46 grants awarded in the most recent grant cycle are:
- BAY CITY: A $50,000 grant from LCRA to the City of Bay City for construction of new lighted soccer fields and additional restrooms at Hardeman Park, plus renovations to an existing teen center at the site.
- BOERNE: A $12,000 grant from LCRA to St. Helena’s Episcopal Church and School for installation of a roof over a popular outdoor community sports court in downtown Boerne.
- BOLING: A $50,000 grant from LCRA to Boling Little League for a new restroom facility at the Boling Community Center’s baseball and softball fields in Wharton County.
- BRENHAM: A $13,478 grant from LCRA and the City of Brenham to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Brenham for a chest compression system.
- BRONTE: A $16,000 grant from LCRA to the East Coke County Ambulance Service for a new heart monitor.
- BROWNWOOD: A $20,004 grant from LCRA to the Brownwood Art Association for upgrades to heating and cooling systems at the Brownwood Art Center.
- CAT SPRING: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the Cat Spring Volunteer Fire Department in Austin County for the replacement of an aging pumper truck.
- COLEMAN: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to Friends of the Coleman Public Library for new LED lighting, water-saving toilets and energy-efficient heating and cooling units at the library.
- CUERO: A $20,000 grant from LCRA to the City of Cuero for new energy-efficient LED lighting at the city’s Harvey and Jane Mueller Rodeo Arena.
- CYPRESS MILL: A $5,000 grant from LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Blanco County for improvements to water storage tanks that supply water to volunteer fire departments during emergencies.
- DEANVILLE: A $24,000 grant from LCRA to the Deanville Volunteer Fire Department in Burleson County for construction of a helipad.
- DOSS: A $16,720 grant from LCRA to the Doss Volunteer Fire Department in Gillespie County for 20 new sets of personal protective gear.
- EL CAMPO: A $23,633 grant from LCRA to the City of El Campo for new emergency response equipment, including automated external defibrillators, for the city’s emergency medical service command vehicles.
- GIDDINGS: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Giddings to Combined Community Action for a new roof at the non-profit organization’s senior center.
- GIDDINGS: A $50,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Giddings to the Giddings Volunteer Fire Department for a new brush truck.
- GOLDTHWAITE: A $20,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Goldthwaite to the Goldthwaite Athletic Booster Club for improvements to the playing surface and facilities at a much-used baseball field.
- GOLDTHWAITE: A $10,570 grant from LCRA and the City of Goldthwaite to American Legion Harry F. Edmondson Post 289 for upgrades to electrical wiring in the post’s 60-year-old Legion Hall.
- GOLIAD: A $24,612 grant from LCRA to the Fannin Street United Methodist Church for the development of outdoor community trails.
- HALLETTSVILLE: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the City of Hallettsville for a new drive-thru window at the city’s Friench Simpson Memorial Library.
- HORSESHOE BAY: A $17,571 grant from LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative to Horseshoe Bay Nature Park for 15 interpretive signs for a walking trail within the park.
- INGLESIDE: A $6,813 grant from LCRA to Tri County Emergency Medical Services for a new automated CPR compression device.
- KENEDY: A $22,456 grant from LCRA to Karnes County Emergency Medical Services for a new medical training manikin.
- LA GRANGE: An $11,901 grant from LCRA and the City of La Grange to the Bugle Boy Foundation for two new heating and cooling units at The Bugle Boy, a popular live-music venue.
- LA GRANGE: A $19,973 grant from LCRA and the City of La Grange to the Fayette County Emergency Medical Services Foundation for a new all-terrain vehicle.
- LAKEHILLS: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and Bandera Electric Cooperative to the Medina Lake Volunteer Fire Department in Bandera County for a compressor and other equipment that will allow first responders to quickly refill critically needed breathing equipment.
- LLANO: A $23,587 grant from LCRA and the City of Llano to the Llano River Railroad for the creation of a mining museum.
- MARBLE FALLS: A $12,287 grant from LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative to Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Services for four transport chairs to help first responders safely move patients out of confined spaces or across uneven terrain.
- MARBLE FALLS: A $24,515 grant from LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative to Highland Lakes Canine Rescue for a rainwater catchment system and water storage tank that will aid area firefighters.
- MATHIS: A $16,580 grant from LCRA to the Mathis Volunteer Fire Department for 20 new sets of dual-certified protective gear.
- MAXWELL: A $4,463 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the Maxwell Social Club in Caldwell County for new energy-efficient windows and solar screens.
- McMAHAN: A $23,055 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the McMahan Community Women’s Club for windows, siding and a new heating and air conditioning system for its 95-year-old events space in Caldwell County.
- MENARD: A $50,000 grant from LCRA to Menard County for a new irrigation system, additional trees and new fencing at a popular public park adjacent to the county courthouse.
- MULLIN: A $35,371 grant from LCRA to the City of Mullin for restoration of the city’s 116-year-old community center.
- NEW BIELAU: An $8,832 grant from LCRA to the New Bielau-Content Community Center in Colorado County for a new parking area and repairs to the center’s uneven driveway.
- OAKLAND: A $7,569 grant from LCRA to the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department in Colorado County for power tools, fire hoses and other new emergency response equipment.
- OTTINE: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the Ottine Volunteer Fire Department in Gonzales County for a new cab and chassis for an 18-year-old brush truck.
- PALACIOS: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the Sanford Community Center for an outdoor trail that will include stretching and exercise stations, bird-watching spots and interpretive signs explaining the historical significance of the site.
- PALACIOS: A $5,000 grant from LCRA to the Palacios Library for a new fire door, a front-door chime and a side-door crash bar.
- ROUND MOUNTAIN: A $50,000 grant from LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative to Blanco County for crew members’ quarters at a new base for air medical services in the northern section of the county.
- SAN SABA: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of San Saba to the San Saba Economic Development Corporation for an all-terrain vehicle for use by police.
- SMITHVILLE: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the City of Smithville for a large lighted sign at the entrance to Vernon L. Richards Riverbend Park.
- TAYLOR: A $5,000 grant from LCRA to the YMCA of Central Texas for automated external defibrillators, lifeguard rescue boards and a CPR training manikin.
- UTOPIA: A $24,609 grant from LCRA and Bandera Electric Cooperative to Utopia Volunteer Emergency Medical Services in Uvalde County for a new hydraulic-powered ambulance stretcher and patient-loading system.
- WASHINGTON: A $15,654 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the Washington Volunteer Fire Department for eight new sets of protective gear.
- WESLACO: A $4,825 grant from LCRA to the City of Weslaco Fire Department for new forcible-entry rescue tools, including axes, wrench kits and extrication equipment, and a new hose roller.
- WINCHESTER: A $14,953 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to Saint Michael’s Lutheran Church in Fayette County for playground equipment and other improvements at a community park.
CDPP grants are awarded twice a year for capital projects for volunteer fire departments, emergency responders, cities and counties, schools, libraries, civic groups, museums, and other tax-exempt non-profit organizations. Applications for the next round of grants are being accepted now at lcra.org/cdpp and are due by midnight on Jan. 31.
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. For more information, visit lcra.org.
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