LCRA, City of Luling award $25,000 grant for air conditioning in Luling Foundation’s demonstration barn

Better climate control will enable facility to be used year-round

NOV. 20, 2024

LCRA and City of Luling representatives present a $25,000 grant to the Luling Foundation for upgrades to its demonstration barn. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Craig Hines, foundation director; Bonnie Dredla, foundation office manager; William Jones, foundation vice chairman; Gary Dickenson, foundation chairman; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; Randall Herzog, foundation director; CJ Watts, Luling mayor; Rick Arnic, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Billy Ray Buckner, foundation director; and Michael Kuck, foundation manager.
LULING, Texas – The Luling Foundation will soon install air conditioning in its much-used demonstration barn thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of Luling.

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, combined with $12,592 in matching funds from the foundation, will help transform the barn from a facility cooled by open doors and a large fan into a comfortable, climate-controlled venue for year-round educational programs and events.

“This grant will allow us to make our demonstration barn a more comfortable and professional space for agriculture education and community events,” said Michael Kuck, manager of the Luling Foundation. “During both hot and cold weather, we’ve either struggled to use the facility or relied on fans or propane heaters, which wasn’t ideal. Now, we can host events year-round, providing a better experience for our guests.”

The upgrades also will protect valuable technology equipment from dust and weather-related wear and tear, ensuring tools like projectors, screens and public address systems are protected from dust blown in when the doors are open.

“The new HVAC system will not only make the barn more inviting but will also help us expand our offerings,” Kuck added. “With a climate-controlled venue, we’ll be able to attract local, state and even national organizations, bringing more events and revenue to the community.”

The Luling Foundation is dedicated to promoting agricultural education and supporting the local community. The facility regularly hosts programs for youth, farmers, ranchers, 4-H and FFA, and public and private events. It also serves as a backup site for Luling ISD’s Emergency Operations Plan.

The community grant is one of 37 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 service areas. The City of Luling is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and a partner in the grant program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January 2025. 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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