LCRA awards $25,000 grant to Palacios Community Medical Center

​​​​​Local Communities
LCRA representatives present a $25,000 grant to the Palacios Community Medical Center for an emergency generator. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Gail Purvis, Palacios Community Medical Center board chair; Bill Turner, PCMC board member; Robert Pascasio, PCMC administrator and CEO; John Harrison, Palacios Medical Foundation; Thuy Vu, PCMC board member; Lori A. Berger, LCRA Board member; Sue Stacy, Palacios Medical Foundation; Stephen F. Cooper, LCRA Board secretary; and Huyen Jessica Tran, PCMC community outreach coordinator.

The Palacios Community Medical Center will soon have a new, reliable emergency generator that will allow the center to continue treating patients even during power outages, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $41,782 in matching contributions, will help the center fulfill its mission of being open 24 hours a day, rain or shine.

The center opened in 1960 and remained in full operation until Hurricane Harvey in 2017, when hospital staff feared the almost 60-year-old generator would fail during the storm. Without a reliable generator, the hospital was forced to temporarily close. As a result, the community was left without local access to critical care during the storm, and people needing help had to travel at least 40 miles north to El Campo for medical services.

“The funding being provided by LCRA will position the organization to be there for the community next time,” said Robert Pascasio, the center’s administrator and chief executive officer. 

The lack of locally available healthcare services during Hurricane Harvey affected other operations in the community as well. County emergency medical services were strained by transporting patients outside of Matagorda County and several local businesses had to modify their disaster and storm response plans because local medical services were unavailable.

“We are truly grateful to LCRA for providing the funds essential to supporting our continuing operations,” Pascasio said.

The community grant is one of a number of grants recently awarded through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. The program provides economic development and community assistance grants to cities, counties, volunteer fire departments, regional development councils and other nonprofit organizations in LCRA’s wholesale electric and water service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted July 1-31, 2019. 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 enhancing the lives of Texans through water stewardship, energy and community services. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934. For more information, visit
lcra.org.

Media Contact
Clara Tuma
512–578–3292
clara.tuma@lcra.org


Source: LCRA Business News

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