LCRA, City of Schulenburg award $47,855 grant to Schulenburg Volunteer Fire Department

New building will protect firetrucks and equipment, provide room to expand as Schulenburg grows

Nov. 10, 2021

SCHULENBURG, Texas – With the support of a $47,855 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of Schulenburg, the Schulenburg Volunteer Fire Department will construct a new building to store and protect its firetrucks and other emergency equipment.

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $20,000 in matching funds, will pay for constructing an annex to house up to six firetrucks and provide storage for equipment and supplies.

“We are currently keeping a firetruck outside because we have run out of space,” said Jeff Proske, fire chief of Schulenburg VFD. “The new building will help us protect our trucks, preserve our equipment and allow for future expansion of the department.”

Proske said the department also is designing a new rescue truck that would have to be kept outdoors without the new building.

He said firefighters expect to be busier than ever as Schulenburg continues to grow and Interstate 10 expands, bringing more traffic through the area.

“The new annex will help our firefighters be better prepared and better protected,” Proske said. “Receiving this grant shows how much people appreciate what we do. It means everything to be supported by LCRA and our community.”

LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson expressed his appreciation for Schulenburg volunteer firefighters and their dedication to public service.

“Fire departments are a vital part of every community, big or small,” Wilson said. “Safety is the top priority at LCRA, and we’re so pleased to play a role in expanding these facilities to help store firetrucks and other equipment safely under cover. It’s essential that firefighters who often put their own lives in danger to rescue others are able to respond to emergencies with equipment and firetrucks that are in excellent condition.”

The community grant is one of 32 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. The City of Schulenburg is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. 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. For more information, visit lcra.org.

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Clara Tuma
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