AUSTIN, Texas – The Lower Colorado River Authority has awarded more than $1 million in Community Development Partnership Program grants for community projects across LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas.
The grants will help fund 44 projects, including helping provide a new brush truck for the San Saba Volunteer Fire Department and new emergency gear or equipment to more than a dozen other fire departments; electronic public message boards in Bellville, Brenham and Yoakum; and new energy-efficient lighting at youth baseball and softball fields in Lexington.
Other grants will help fund construction of a new community center in Austin County and a new arts and cultural center in Fayetteville, as well as help the Schleicher County library move to a larger site. Numerous other community centers, emergency shelters, museums, parks, libraries and arts venues will be able to upgrade their facilities thanks to recent CPPP grants.
LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said the grants support communities and boost economic development in LCRA’s service area, as well as improve public safety by supplying first responders with the lifesaving equipment they need.
“LCRA is proud to contribute to these projects that add to the vitality of communities,” Wilson said. “Whether it’s improving a library or museum, upgrading a community space or providing a new truck or emergency equipment to a volunteer fire department, these projects support the communities we serve both in the short-term and long-term.”
Nearly half of the recently awarded grants support first responders and public safety efforts by enabling fire departments and other first responders to buy or upgrade vehicles and gear, add new rescue tools or purchase state-of-the-art lifesaving equipment such as automated external defibrillators. In Mason County, a CDPP grant will help pay for construction of a concrete helipad for crews responding to medical and other emergencies, and in Llano County, a CDPP grant will help the county place new AEDs in public buildings in Kingsland, Llano, Buchanan Dam and Horseshoe Bay.
“First responders do so much to help support their communities, and we are pleased to help them operate safely and effectively,” Wilson said. “These grants help provide dependable vehicles and updated safety tools and gear to the men and women who risk their lives daily in responding to emergencies.”
To date, LCRA has awarded 2,056 community grants totaling more than $52 million. When combined with more than $239 million in community-raised matching funds, the program has invested almost $292 million in local communities.
The 44 grants awarded in the most recent grant cycle are:
• ADAMSVILLE: A $19,172 grant from LCRA and Hamilton County Electric Cooperative to the Adamsville Volunteer Fire Department for new extrication tools, including inflatable airbags that can raise and stabilize vehicles and heavy farm equipment.
• BELLVILLE: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Bellville to the Bellville Chamber of Commerce for a community message board for emergency alerts and information about local events.
• BELMONT: A $50,000 grant from LCRA to the Belmont Volunteer Fire Department for a new mini pumper truck and set of battery-powered extrication tools.
• BLANKET: A $39,780 grant from LCRA to the Blanket Volunteer Fire Fighters Association for a fire station expansion that will include a meeting/training room, bathrooms and air conditioning.
• BRACKETTVILLE: An $8,538 grant from LCRA to the City of Brackettville for a new utility task vehicle that city crews can use for maintenance calls, service requests and emergency responses.
• BRACKETTVILLE: A $20,000 grant from LCRA to Kinney County Fire Rescue for a utility terrain vehicle that first responders can use to respond to emergency calls in rugged areas.
• BRADY: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Brady to the McCulloch County Hospital District for a new defibrillator and heart monitor for the district’s primary ambulance.
• BRENHAM: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the City of Brenham for two mobile electronic message boards to share emergency alerts and promote community events.
• BRENHAM: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Brenham to the Unity Theatre Company for new carpet and supportive contoured seating in its Main Stage theater.
• BROOKESMITH: A $17,432 grant from LCRA to the Brookesmith Volunteer Fire Department for a generator and ADA-compliant entry ramps at an addition to the fire station that also will serve as a community center.
• CAT SPRING: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the Cat Spring Agricultural Society for the construction of a new community center.
• COLUMBUS: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the Columbus Volunteer Fire Department for installation of a sprinkler system in its fire station.
• COLUMBUS: A $4,800 grant from LCRA to the Live Oak Art Center for repairs and restoration of the original wood floors in the historic Brunson Building that houses the center.
• DALE: A $20,371 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to St. John 19th Body for the addition of restrooms, a new septic system and a high-efficiency water heater to the St. John Colony Civic Center.
• DIME BOX: A $15,868 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the Dime Box Heritage Society for a new roof and an upgraded, energy-efficient heating and cooling system at the Dime Box Heritage Museum.
• DRIPPING SPRINGS: A $15,708 grant from LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative to Hays County Emergency Services District #6 for four new automated external defibrillators.
• EAGLE LAKE: A $4,796 grant from LCRA to the Eagle Lake Chamber of Commerce for improving accessibility to restrooms and creating kitchen space inside the community hall adjacent to the chamber’s business office.
• EL CAMPO: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the Northside Center for the addition of restrooms to the center’s upstairs auditorium.
• ELDORADO: A $50,000 grant from LCRA to the Schleicher County Public Library for the library’s relocation to a significantly larger 5,000-square-foot space that will allow for additional books, resources and community programs.
• FAYETTEVILLE: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the Fayetteville Community Center Group for construction of a new arts and cultural center that will provide space for arts instruction, performances and meeting rooms for community groups.
• GOLDTHWAITE: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Goldthwaite to the Mills County Historical Museum for critically needed repairs to a distinctive exterior rock wall at the museum.
• HORSESHOE BAY: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative to the City of Horseshoe Bay Fire Department for new battery-powered rescue tools.
• KEMPNER: A $24,000 grant from LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative to the Kempner Volunteer Fire Department for hoses, nozzles, ladders and other essential equipment needed to equip a recently added second-hand engine.
• KINGSLAND: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the Kingsland/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce for bathroom and kitchen renovations and updated flooring and lighting in the community hall at Kingsland Community Park.
• LA GRANGE: A $23,500 grant from LCRA and the City of La Grange to Crosspoint Community Church for a generator for the church’s fellowship hall, which serves as a designated Red Cross shelter during emergencies.
• LAMPASAS: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Lampasas to Lampasas Trails for construction of the initial 4 miles of a hike and bike trail at the 580 Sports Complex.
• LEDBETTER: A $50,000 grant from LCRA to the Ledbetter Volunteer Fire Department for new, more effective rescue tools for the department’s recently purchased firetruck.
• LEXINGTON: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Lexington to the Lexington Youth Baseball and Softball Association for energy-efficient lighting at two playing fields.
• LLANO: A $13,265 grant from LCRA and the City of Llano to Llano County for nine new external defibrillators and first-aid kits that will be placed in various public buildings in Kingsland, Llano, Buchanan Dam and Horseshoe Bay.
• LULING: A $20,336 grant from LCRA and the City of Luling to the Zedler Mill Foundation for painting and exterior repairs to the 124-year-old Fritz Zedler House, which is available for community events and guest rentals.
• MATAGORDA: A $14,526 grant from LCRA to the Matagorda Volunteer Fire Department for a utility terrain vehicle that will enable first responders to reach off-road sections of the beach and shoreline more easily during emergencies.
• OLDEN: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the Olden Volunteer Fire Department for firefighting equipment to upgrade a tanker truck to a fully equipped fire engine.
• PAIGE: A $41,278 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the Paige Community Club for a new roof and energy-efficient lighting at the Paige Community Center.
• PALACIOS: A $2,850 grant from LCRA to the Palacios Area Historical Association for a new exterior side door at the City by the Sea Museum to improve security and environmental conditions at the museum.
• PIPE CREEK: An $8,760 grant from LCRA and Bandera Electric Cooperative to the Pipe Creek Volunteer Fire Department for two new 3,400-gallon water storage tanks.
• PRIDDY: A $10,716 grant from LCRA and Hamilton County Electric Cooperative to American Legion Post 487 for extensive renovations to the popular Legion Hall, the site of various community events.
• PONTOTOC: A $17,920 grant from LCRA to the Pontotoc Ranch Fire Association for construction of a concrete landing pad for helicopters responding to emergency calls.
• ROSANKY: A $14,112 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the Rosanky Community Center Association for a new shade canopy over the community center’s playscape and new solar lighting near a pavilion.
• SAN MARCOS: A $9,885 grant from LCRA and the City of San Marcos to Hays County for a new emergency trailer and upgrades to a second unit.
• SAN SABA: A $50,000 grant from LCRA and the City of San Saba to the San Saba Volunteer Fire Department for a new brush truck to replace an outdated vehicle that is more than 30 years old.
• SHERIDAN: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the Sheridan Community Center for extensive renovations that include updating the center’s electrical system and upgrading the kitchen and restrooms.
• SHINER: A $9,161 grant from LCRA to the Edwin Wolters Memorial Museum for two new heating and cooling units and upgrades to the museum’s electrical wiring.
• WEIMAR: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the Oakridge Volunteer Fire Department for outfitting a new firetruck with a 4,000-gallon water tank, pumps and hoses, equipment storage bins and sirens and lights.
• YOAKUM: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Yoakum to the Yoakum High School Student Council for a state-of-the-art digital sign for emergency alerts and messages about student and community events.
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 organizations. Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted during July at lcra.org/cdpp. Applications are due by midnight July 31.
