The Lower Colorado River Authority and its wholesale electric customers recently awarded $534,033 in community grants through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program.
The matching grants will help communities fund capital projects ranging from buying new firefighting and emergency response equipment to improving parks, community centers and museums that add to local cultural and economic development. The program provides grants to cities, counties, volunteer fire departments, regional groups and other nonprofit organizations in LCRA’s electric and water service areas.
“These grants represent LCRA’s investment in the present and future of the communities we serve,” said Phil Wilson, LCRA general manager. “Many of these recipients have told us they would not have been able to take on these projects without help from these grants.”
Since 1995, LCRA and its customers have awarded more than 1,500 community grants worth more than $42.6 million.
“The grants are just the beginning of the benefits for communities,” Wilson said. “The grant recipients have gone on to raise roughly $218 million in matching funds, resulting in a total investment in local projects of more than $260 million.”
The 22 grants awarded in the first round of grants in 2016 are:
- LCRA and Bandera Electric Cooperative awarded an $18,920 grant to the Medina Lake Volunteer Fire Department for automated external defibrillators.
- LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative awarded a $24,832 grant to the Martindale Police Department for a new patrol vehicle.
- LCRA and Bluebonnet awarded a $10,342 grant to the Prairie Hill-Rocky Hill Volunteer Fire Department for backup generators and emergency lighting.
- LCRA and Bluebonnet awarded a $4,576 grant to the Tanglewood Volunteer Fire Department for extrication tools.
- LCRA and Bluebonnet awarded a $19,500 grant to the Tilmon Community Club for renovations to the community center building.
- LCRA and the City of Bastrop awarded a $50,000 grant to the Lost Pines Art Center and Reflective Sculpture Garden for a lower Colorado River water feature fed by a rainwater collection system.
- LCRA and the City of Giddings awarded a $48,000 grant to Friends of the Depot to install a new heating and air conditioning system and insulation at the Sterling Theatre.
- LCRA awarded a $25,000 grant to the City of Hallettsville for new Little League field lighting.
- LCRA and the City of La Grange awarded a $20,000 grant to the La Grange Education Support Program Foundation for a new high school football scoreboard.
- LCRA and the City of Lampasas awarded a $25,000 grant to the Lampasas County Livestock Association to upgrade a livestock facility and parking lot.
- LCRA and the City of Llano awarded an $18,096 grant to the Llano County Historical Society for new air conditioners and lighting.
- LCRA and the City of San Saba awarded a $25,000 grant to the San Saba Volunteer Fire Department for a new emergency response brush truck.
- LCRA awarded a $12,000 grant to the City of San Saba for recycling center equipment.
- LCRA awarded a $50,000 grant to the City of Yoakum for community center upgrades.
- LCRA awarded a $25,000 grant to Matagorda County for emergency radio communication improvements.
- LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative awarded a $25,000 grant to Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & Emergency Medical Services for Air-Pak breathing systems.
- LCRA and PEC awarded a $19,100 grant to the City of Cottonwood Shores for a new police vehicle.
- LCRA and PEC awarded a $19,148 grant to the City of Dripping Springs to build a pavilion in Charro Ranch Park.
- LCRA and PEC awarded a $23,063 grant to the City of Granite Shoals for a rainwater catchment system.
- LCRA and PEC awarded a $25,000 grant to the City of Lago Vista for sports complex improvements.
- LCRA and PEC awarded a $24,200 grant to the Kimble County Historical Museum for a rainwater catchment system.
- LCRA and PEC awarded a $22,256 grant to the Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Services for new CPR equipment.
The Community Development Partnership Program awards grants twice a year. Applications for the next awards are due Aug. 1, with grants to be awarded in September. 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; ensuring a clean, reliable water supply; and offering access to nature at more than 40 parks, recreation areas and river access sites along the Texas Colorado River, from the Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to enhancing the lives of Texans through water stewardship, energy and community services. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934. The organization neither levies taxes nor receives tax money. For more information, visit LCRA.org.
Source: LCRA Business News
