LCRA awards $16,400 grant to Texans for Disabled Veterans

New HVAC system, electrical work will improve comfort, safety at annual veterans’ event

May 28, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • LCRA awards a $16,400 grant to Texans for Disabled Veterans to upgrade the electrical system and install a new HVAC system at the Grossville Community Center.
  • The improvements will help make the center more comfortable and functional for community events and the Texans for Disabled Veterans’ annual dove hunt.
  • The grant is one of 41 being awarded through LCRA’s Community Grants program through June. LCRA will accept applications in July for the next round of grants.

LCRA representatives present a $16,400 grant to the Texans for Disabled Veterans for a new HVAC and electrical system at Grossville Community Center. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Caroline Blanding and her mother, Melissa K. Blanding, LCRA Board member; Terry Johnson, TDV volunteer; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; Martha Leigh M. Whitten, LCRA Board vice chair; Carol Freeman, LCRA Board member; Gary Johnson, TDV board president; Nancy Eckert Yeary, LCRA Board member; and John Palacio, LCRA Regional Affairs representative.

MASON COUNTY – Texans for Disabled Veterans soon will upgrade the electrical system and install a new HVAC system at the Grossville Community Center, thanks to a $16,400 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The LCRA Community Grant, along with $4,100 in matching funds from the veterans’ group, will support improvements to the more than 100-year-old building, helping make it safer and more comfortable for the disabled veterans and members of the community who meet there.

“This building is where we bring veterans with disabilities together each year for meals and a chance to connect with others who understand their experiences,” said Gary Johnson, president of Texans for Disabled Veterans. “The HVAC and electrical upgrades are crucial because they will make the facility safer and more comfortable, especially during September when the heat can be difficult for many of our attending veterans.”

The annual event brings more than 50 veterans with disabilities to Mason County for a weekend of hunting, meals, skeet shooting, prizes and fellowship. Texans for Disabled Veterans covers expenses for participating veterans and works throughout the year to raise the funds needed to host the event.

“We want this to be a place where veterans feel welcomed and cared for,” Johnson said. “We’ve made additional improvements including adding a larger, ADA-accessible bathroom, kitchen updates and installing new flooring. The LCRA grant helps us finish one of the most important pieces of the project. With air conditioning and updated electrical, we can better serve the veterans who come here and continue to grow the event in the coming years.”

The Grossville Community Center has hosted church retreats, holiday gatherings and small receptions. Once renovations are complete, the center will provide the surrounding community with additional meeting space while continuing to serve as the home base for Texans for Disabled Veterans’ annual event. The improvements also will increase seating capacity from about 55 people to more than 90.

This is one of 41 grants awarded recently through LCRA Community Grants. These grants are awarded twice a year as part of LCRA’s effort to give back to communities in its wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas.

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

Contact Info

Clara Tuma
512-578-3292
[email protected]
After hours: 512-944-6719

About LCRA

The Lower Colorado River Authority serves communities across Texas by managing the lower Colorado River, generating and transmitting wholesale electric power, providing clean water supplies, operating telecommunications infrastructure, and owning parks for outdoor recreation. LCRA delivers power, water and infrastructure that support the region’s growth and quality of life. 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. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1934, LCRA receives no state appropriations.