Funding will support first responders, community centers and other projects across LCRA's service area
AUSTIN – The Lower Colorado River Authority recently awarded $1,108,769 in grants to support community projects across LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas.
The Community Development Partnership Program grants will help fund 45 projects, including the construction of a fourbay addition to the Cat Spring Volunteer Fire Department in Austin County, installing a flood warning system at a low-water crossing in Llano, upgrading a 50-year-old community center in Bronte and repairing the hurricane- damaged Danish Heritage Museum in Wharton County.
Other grants will help fund improvements at sports facilities and parks in Columbus, Eagle Lake, El Campo, Flatonia, Giddings, Goldthwaite, Johnson City, Junction, Kenedy, Lometa, Odem, San Marcos, San Saba and Woodcreek.
LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said the community grants support the health, safety and development of communities throughout LCRA’s diverse service territory, which includes all or parts of 73 counties.
“Our goal is to help communities continue to thrive by helping with projects such as improving museums and libraries, expanding recreational opportunities and supplying first responders with reliable equipment,” Wilson said. “These grants help support local initiatives and improve the lives of Texans.”
Many of the grants support first responders, including help ing fund the purchase of automated CPR devices for responders in Blanco, Cassie in Burnet County and Utopia; AEDs in Lometa and Smiley; breathing apparatus systems in Mountain Home and Zephyr; and personal protective equipment in Berclair, Santa Anna and Waelder.
“Emergency responders never know exactly what they’ll encounter when they head out the door to a call,” Wilson said. “They need to be ready for almost anything, and to do that they need reliable, modern equipment. LCRA is pleased to play a role in helping provide fire departments and medics new personal protective equipment, automated CPR devices and more as they work to help people in their communities stay safe. We’re thankful for their dedication.”
To date, LCRA has awarded 2,137 community grants totaling more than $54 million. When combined with more than $242 million in community-raised matching funds, the program has invested almost $297 million in local communities.
The grants awarded to entities in the Banner Press service area are:
• BELLVILLE: A $24,700 grant from LCRA and the City of Bellville to the Bellville Lions Club to replace the outdated HVAC system at historic Concordia Hall.
• BRENHAM: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Brenham to the Brenham Fire Department for thermal imaging cameras and chargers.
• BRONTE: A $50,000 grant from LCRA to the Restoring Bronte Foundation to repair and upgrade the 50-year-old community center and emergency shelter.
• CAT SPRING: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the Cat Spring Volunteer Fire Department in Austin County to construct a four-bay addition to store emergency vehicles and equipment.
• COLUMBUS: An $18,758 grant from LCRA to the City of Columbus to refurbish an existing basketball court to add pickleball, new timed lighting and fencing.
• EAGLE LAKE: A $24,960 grant from LCRA to the Eagle Lake Recreation Center to construct a new, larger recreational/ maintenance equipment shed with a covered area for concession sales.
• FLATONIA: A $19,805 grant from LCRA and the City of Flatonia to the Flatonia Youth Sports and Events to upgrade the soccer field by adding benches, bleachers, a scoreboard and a water fountain at 7-Acre Park.
• HALLETTSVILLE: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Hallettsville to the Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture to replace an outdated marquee with a modern, high-visibility digital display system.
• LEE COUNTY: A $24,500 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the South Lee County Volunteer Fire Department for a truck to replace a 32-year-old truck used for brush fires and high-water rescues.
• ROUND TOP: A $17,478 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the Round Top Library Association to construct an ADA-compliant deck/outdoor classroom space for the library's community center annex.
• SARGENT: A $35,055 grant from LCRA to the Sargent Area Fire and Rescue in Matagorda County to purchase and equip a utility task vehicle for beach and off-road emergency responses and rescue operations.
• SHINER: A $50,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Shiner to the Columbus Club of Shiner Texas to remodel and upgrade the Shiner KC Park community hall.
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 nonprofit organiza tions. Applications for the next round of grants will be available during July at lcra.org/grants. Applications are due by midnight on July 31.
