LCRA to offer two $100,000 community grants to celebrate grant program’s 30th year
First responders, museums and other nonprofits can apply for the special grants in July 2025 and January 2026
May 27, 2025
AUSTIN, Texas – The Lower Colorado River Authority is increasing the amount of money available for community grants over the next fiscal year and plans to award two $100,000 grants to commemorate the grant program’s 30th anniversary.
The new $100,000 grants will be in addition to the grants of up to $50,000 LCRA awards twice a year for projects such as improving community centers, fire stations and sports fields, and providing new gear to first responders. The two $100,000 grants will be offered only during LCRA’s 2026 fiscal year, which runs from July 2025 to June 2026.
LCRA established its community grants program in October 1995 and awarded its first grants in March 1996. Since then, the grant program has awarded 2,137 grants totaling more than $54 million.
“We are so proud to support projects in communities throughout our service territory with our grant program,” LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said. “These two $100,000 grants are to celebrate the thousands of grants we’ve awarded over the years and help with two substantial community projects.”
One $100,000 grant will be awarded after the July application period, and the second will be awarded next year after the January application period.
“Our goal is to support the Texans we serve,” Wilson said. “Thanks to this program, volunteer fire departments across the area have new trucks, museums have roofs that don’t leak and community centers have commercial-grade kitchens that can enable them to host events and serve as emergency shelters. The grants assist with lights for ball fields, safety equipment for first responders and so much more, and we look forward to the next 30 years of supporting communities.”
LCRA awards community grants twice a year to tax-exempt nonprofits such as volunteer fire departments, emergency responders, museums, civic groups and libraries, as well as local governments, schools and hospitals. The grants are not available to individuals, for-profit entities, professional associations, social service projects or limited-use facilities.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted online at www.lcra.org/grants beginning July 1 and must be submitted by midnight July 31. The second grant application period of the fiscal year will open in January.
Applicants requesting more than $5,000 in grant funding must supply matching funds of at least 20% of the total project cost. The projects must benefit or be available to an entire community and improve the value of a capital asset through building, renovating or purchasing equipment.
Projects located in all or part of the following counties are eligible for the community grants: Aransas, Austin, Bandera, Bastrop, Blanco, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Callahan, Cameron, Coke, Coleman, Colorado, Comal, Concho, Coryell, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, DeWitt, Dimmit, Eastland, Ector, Edwards, Fayette, Gillespie, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hamilton, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee, Llano, Mason, Matagorda, Maverick, McCulloch, Medina, Menard, Midland, Mills, Nolan, Nueces, Pecos, Real, San Patricio, San Saba, Schleicher, Starr, Sterling, Sutton, Taylor, Terrell, Tom Green, Travis, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Waller, Washington, Wharton, Williamson and Zavala.
Visit www.lcra.org/grants for information on eligibility requirements and to submit an application. For more information, email [email protected] or call 800-776-5272, ext. 3140 or ext. 1627.
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.
Social Media