LCRA, wholesale electric customers award more than $478,000 in grants to local communities

The Lower Colorado River Authority and its wholesale electric customers recently awarded $478,053 in grants for community projects in the LCRA wholesale electric and water service areas.

The Community Development Partnership Program grants helped fund 23 projects, ranging from replacing outdated playground equipment in Smithville to purchasing new brush trucks for volunteer fire departments to upgrading the electrical system in a historic Bellville pavilion. The grants also supplied much-needed emergency gear to firefighters and other first responders in a number of communities.

“These grants help with individual projects, and they also help strengthen communities,” said Phil Wilson, LCRA general manager. “We hear time and again that many of these projects would go unfunded without help from the grants. We are honored to join our wholesale electric customers in supporting these projects and, in turn, the economic development of communities throughout our service territory.”

Overall, LCRA and its wholesale electric customers have awarded 1,695 community grants totaling more than $44.5 million through the program. When combined with almost $224 million in community-raised matching funds, the program has invested more than $268.5 million in local communities.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted Jan. 1-31, 2019. Most of the grants are for $25,000 or less, but every cycle includes two or three grants of up to $50,000. Eligible organizations include volunteer fire departments, emergency responders, local governments, schools, libraries, civic groups, museums and other nonprofit organizations. More information is available at
lcra.org/cdpp.

The 23 grants awarded in the most recent grant cycle are:

  • BELLVILLE – A $22,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Bellville to the Bellville Turnverein Pavilion Restoration Project for electrical system upgrades.
  • BRENHAM – A $23,500 grant from LCRA to the City of Brenham Police Department to purchase removable bollards to help with traffic control during festivals and other special events in downtown Brenham.
  • CENTER POINT – A $17,200 grant from LCRA and Bandera Electric Cooperative to the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department to purchase new firefighting gear and rescue tools.
  • COTTONWOOD SHORES – A $23,050 grant from LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative to the Cottonwood Shores Volunteer Fire Department to renovate the station’s kitchen.
  • CUERO – A $6,800 grant from LCRA and the City of Cuero to the Cuero Volunteer Fire Department for a thermal imaging camera.
  • DALE – A $50,000 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the Dale Volunteer Fire Department to purchase a cab and chassis to assemble a new brush truck.
  • DIME BOX – A $20,700 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the Dime Box Lions Foundation to create a new public park centered around the historic Black Bridge.
  • DRIPPING SPRINGS – A $13,994 grant from LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative to Hays County Emergency Services District #6 for equipment to clean firefighters’ protective gear.
  • GIDDINGS – A $9,891 grant from LCRA and the City of Giddings to Lee County for new heating and air conditioning units and gutters for the historic Fletcher House.
  • JUNCTION – A $25,000 grant from LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative to the Junction Independent School District to repair and replace playground equipment.
  • KERRVILLE – A $32,057 grant from LCRA and Bandera Electric Cooperative to the Turtle Creek Volunteer Fire Department to purchase new firefighting gear.
  • LOCKHART – A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Lockhart to the Gaslight-Baker Theatre to renovate the Swearingen Building.
  • LOCKHART – A $12,687 grant from LCRA and the City of Lockhart to the Lockhart Independent School District to upgrade its walking track.
  • MASON – A $16,390 grant from LCRA and the City of Mason to the Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library for upgrades to the library’s Discovery Garden.
  • MOUNTAIN HOME – A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the Mountain Home Volunteer Fire Department for fire station improvements.
  • ROUND TOP – A $23,500 grant from LCRA to the Round Top Rifle Association to replace the lighting system at its community hall.
  • ROUND TOP – A $13,154 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the Round Top Library Association to replace the library’s two air conditioning units and a heating unit.
  • SAN SABA – A $2,800 grant from LCRA to the San Saba County First Responder Organization to purchase medical supplies.
  • SMITHVILLE – A $22,999 grant from LCRA to the City of Smithville to replace playground equipment at three parks.
  • SPICEWOOD – A $10,640 grant from LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative to the Friends of the Spicewood Community Library to replace the library’s sign.
  • STONEWALL – A $23,173 grant from LCRA to the Stonewall Volunteer Fire Department for new hydraulic extrication tools.
  • WAELDER – A $38,778 grant from LCRA and the City of Waelder to the Waelder Volunteer Fire Department to purchase a brush truck.
  • WASHINGTON – A $19,740 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the Washington Texas Volunteer Fire Department to purchase a gas generator. 

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 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. 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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