LCRA awards $25,000 grant to City of Coleman to help residents keep properties up to code
Program will provide property owners with free access to equipment for property maintenance
OCT. 29, 2024
COLEMAN, Texas – The Lower Colorado River Authority has awarded a $25,000 grant to the City of Coleman to provide landowners with free access to tools and other equipment to maintain their properties.
The LCRA Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with over $11,000 in matching funds from the city, will allow the Code Compliance Division to purchase a utility trailer, lawn mowers and other essential equipment to abate property nuisances and assist residents with property maintenance.
The Community Abatement Team project started in 2019 to address the negative impacts on public well-being and safety caused by abandoned and neglected properties in the community. The grant will help fund phase two of the project by providing a trailer and equipment that can be used by both code enforcement and residents.
Clayton Crowther, code compliance officer for the City of Coleman, said the equipment that will be available for residents to use will help remove financial barriers that prevent some residents from maintaining their properties, while also enabling the code department to continue to focus on abandoned sites.
“During my time here, I’ve run into many residents that have a hard time keeping up with their property because they don’t have the means to purchase proper equipment or aren’t able to hire somebody to maintain it,” Crowther said. “This phase involves a two-fold approach. Residents will be able to utilize equipment free of charge and the code department will also use the tools to continue servicing abandoned properties.”
Crowther said property maintenance can create a safer and cleaner community and ensure overgrown vegetation, which is highly susceptible to wildfires, is regularly maintained.
“Without this grant, we would not be able to keep up with the hazards at hand,” Crowther said. “With the help provided by the grant, we’ll be able to address properties that attract snakes or pests, or create fire hazards. We plan to work together as a community to clean everything up and make it a nice, healthy and safe environment for years to come.”
City Manager Diana Lopez said the city is appreciative of LCRA’s continued support and investments to the Coleman community.
“We are deeply grateful to LCRA for their generous grant and for recognizing the mission of our council and community,” Lopez said. “This partnership exemplifies the importance of collaboration in achieving our shared goals. It takes all of us working together to build a stronger, more vibrant future for our city.”
The community grant is one of 37 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund eligible capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission 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 in January. 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 fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations.
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