LCRA awards almost a million dollars in grants to support dozens of community projects

Grants aid first responders and community projects across LCRA’s service area

DEC. 19, 2023

AUSTIN, Texas – The Lower Colorado River Authority has awarded more than $995,000 in Community Development Partnership Program grants for a wide range of projects across LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas.

The grants will help fund 45 community projects, including enlarging a Luling fire station, adding a scoreboard to a Richland Springs ballfield and upgrading the Palacios library.

Other grants will enable the City of McCamey to upgrade popular Santa Fe Park and help the City of Eagle Lake repair a leaking swimming pool at an area park, as well as pay for major improvements at local parks and playscapes, museums, libraries, youth sports facilities and community meeting spaces.

LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said the grants contribute to community and economic development throughout LCRA’s service territory and help provide first responders needed lifesaving equipment.

“These CDPP grants support communities by helping fund improvements to projects that help make communities great places to live and work,” Wilson said. “LCRA is proud to contribute to projects that range from improvements to community centers, ballfields and museums to providing new state-of-the-art rescue gear and a helipad for first responders.”

More than a third of the recently awarded grants will benefit first responders and help boost public safety. The grants will enable fire departments and other first responders to replace outdated protective equipment, add new rescue tools, purchase lifesaving equipment and more.

“First responders need proper protective gear, updated rescue tools and reliable vehicles, and we are pleased to be able to help meet some of these needs as we thank them for their selfless service,” Wilson said.

To date, LCRA has awarded 2,012 community grants totaling more than $51 million. When combined with more than $235 million in community-raised matching funds, the program has invested almost $287 million in local communities.

The 45 grants awarded in the most recent grant cycle are:

• BANDERA: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and Bandera Electric Cooperative to American Legion Post 157 for the replacement of an outdated electrical system and other upgrades to the group’s building, which often hosts community events.
• BAY CITY: A $10,000 grant from LCRA to the Matagorda County Museum Association for remodeling the museum’s top floor to add new exhibit cases for artifacts and new display panels for historical photos and local artwork.
• BELLVILLE: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Bellville to Austin County for the purchase of a mobile command center to improve operations and better protect first responders at emergency scenes.
• BELLVILLE: An $18,010 grant from LCRA and the City of Bellville to the Bellville Pickleball League for the addition of bleachers, connecting sidewalks and upgrades to the playing courts.
• CISCO: A $13,440 grant from LCRA to the City of Cisco Fire Department for 15 new sets of wildland firefighting gear.
• DRIPPING SPRINGS: A $19,800 grant from LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative to North Hays County Emergency Services District #1 for new mechanical chest compression devices that will aid lifesaving efforts.
• EAGLE LAKE: A $10,200 grant from LCRA to the Prairie Edge Museum for interior repairs to water-damaged areas inside the museum and upgraded LED lighting for its historical displays.
• EAGLE LAKE: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the City of Eagle Lake for repairs to the swimming pool at a municipal park, including fixing an unstable foundation that has resulted in major leaks.
• EASTLAND: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the Eastland County Museum for a new energy-efficient heating and cooling system.
• FALLS CITY: An $8,180 grant from LCRA to the Falls City Independent School District for new technology that will allow the district to communicate directly with the Karnes County Sheriff’s Office.
• FAYETTEVILLE: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the Shelby Volunteer Fire Department for construction of a concrete helipad that will be available for emergency medical flights around-the-clock.
• GIDDINGS: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Giddings to the Lee County Youth Center for benches and a shade awning at the center’s ADA-accessible playground.
• GOLDTHWAITE: An $8,253 grant from LCRA and the City of Goldthwaite to the Goldthwaite Theatre for the addition of a wheelchair-accessible ramp and a new, energy-efficient exterior door.
• GONZALES: A $12,908 grant from LCRA to Gonzales Healthcare Systems for a mechanical chest compression system that will aid lifesaving efforts for cardiac patients at Memorial Hospital.
• HALLETTSVILLE: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Hallettsville to the Hallettsville Lions Club for a new shade canopy that will help keep playground equipment cooler at a city park and protect visitors from harmful ultraviolet rays.
• HEMPSTEAD: A $20,000 grant from LCRA to the City of Hempstead for renovations that will help create an ADA-compliant restroom at City Hall.
• HONDO: A $20,797 grant from LCRA to Medina County for a utility task vehicle that will help first responders travel more quickly and safely to emergency scenes in remote areas.
• KENEDY: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the Kenedy Volunteer Fire Department for new portable radios for first responders in the field and mobile radios that will be added to emergency response vehicles.
• KERRVILLE: A $5,000 grant from LCRA to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country for a rainwater harvesting system that will promote water conservation and supply water for the foundation’s office and garden.
• LA GRANGE: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of La Grange to the La Grange Lions Foundation for a shade structure that will cover and help cool playground equipment at Kruschel Memorial Park.
• LAMPASAS: A $12,359 grant from LCRA and the City of Lampasas to Lampasas Community Gardens for construction of an ADA-compliant garden that will include six raised beds.
• LAMPASAS: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Lampasas to the Lampasas Lions Club for a paved walking path and exercise equipment stations at a community sports complex.
• LLANO: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Llano to the Llano Main Street Program for renovations to the facades of four adjoining buildings in the city’s historic business district.
• LOHN: A $10,897 grant from LCRA to the Lohn Valley Improvement Association for the purchase of two energy-efficient heating and air conditioning units for the Lohn Tabernacle community center.
• LOMETA: A $32,464 grant from LCRA and Hamilton County Electric Cooperative to the Lometa Volunteer Fire Department for a new battery-powered set of extrication tools.
• LULING: A $50,000 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the Southeast Caldwell County Volunteer Fire Department for a building extension that can house two firetrucks, firefighters’ protective gear and a small office.
• MAXWELL: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the Maxwell Community Volunteer Fire Department for 10 new sets of custom-fitted protective gear.
• McCAMEY: A $17,360 grant from LCRA to the Upton County Historical Society for renovations including a new roof, updated electrical wiring and air conditioning that will help turn a former service station into a community event space.
• McCAMEY: A $50,000 grant from LCRA to the City of McCamey for the addition of walking paths, exercise stations and updated playground equipment at Santa Fe Park.
• PALACIOS: A $50,000 grant from LCRA to Friends of the Palacios Library for new mobile shelving and interior upgrades that will expand the library’s educational offerings for children and adults.
• RED ROCK: A $24,238 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the Red Rock Community Center for two new energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning units and other improvements.
• RICHLAND SPRINGS: A $47,665 grant from LCRA to the Richland Springs Youth Baseball Association for new energy-efficient lighting, a new scoreboard and other needed upgrades at its playing field.
• RISING STAR: A $7,098 grant from LCRA to the Rising Star Volunteer Fire Department for new communications equipment.
• ROBERT LEE: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to West Coke County Emergency Medical Service for a new portable heart monitor and defibrillator.
• ROCKWOOD: A $10,200 grant from LCRA to the Rockwood Cemetery Association for improvements to the town’s community center, including leveling the building’s foundation and installing new flooring.
• ROSANKY: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to Rosanky Baptist Church for a new shade structure above a community playscape and new lighting at a nearby basketball court.
• ROUND MOUNTAIN: A $24,750 grant from LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative to the Round Mountain Volunteer Fire Department for three sets of personal protective equipment and portable handheld radios.
• SAN MARCOS: An $8,800 grant from LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative to the Commemorative Air Force Central Texas Wing for new energy-efficient lighting that will better showcase the group’s World War II-era planes and other popular aircraft exhibits.
• SAN SABA: A $16,940 grant from LCRA and the City of San Saba to Friends of the Rylander Memorial Library for new carpet.
• SMITHVILLE: A $25,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Smithville to the Lost Pines Artisans Alliance for a new heating and air conditioning system and tinted windows at the Mary Nichols Art Center.
• TOW: A $20,846 grant from LCRA to the Tow Community Center Association for a new generator, a new heating and cooling system and other upgrades that will enable the center to serve as an emergency shelter.
• UTOPIA: A $19,320 grant from LCRA and Bandera Electric Cooperative to Utopia Volunteer Fire and Rescue for a rainwater catchment system and a 3,000-gallon storage tank that will aid firefighting efforts.
• VALLEY SPRING: A $12,404 grant from LCRA to the Valley Spring Volunteer Fire Department for new protective gear and equipment.
• WEIMAR: A $50,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Weimar to the Weimar Volunteer Fire Department for new air packs that supply compressed breathable air and prevent firefighters from inhaling noxious fumes at emergency scenes.
• WINCHESTER: A $10,000 grant from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to the Winchester Area Civic Association for improvements to Zilss Memorial Hall that include the purchase of two new air conditioners and renovations to make the community building ADA-compliant.

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 January at lcra.org/cdpp. Applications are due by midnight Jan. 31.

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.

Contact Info