LCRA, City of Yoakum award $23,520 grant to Yoakum Little League

New lighting will increase safety, allow for more tournaments

May 3, 2022

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LCRA and City of Yoakum representatives present a $23,520 grant to the Yoakum Little League to upgrade baseball and softball field lighting. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Rick Arnic, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Kevin Coleman, Yoakum city manager; Billy Goodrich, Yoakum city council member; Raymond Rosas, Yoakum Little League president; Shannon Blaschke, Yoakum Little League board member; Matthew L. “Matt” Arthur, LCRA Board member; and John Olivares, Yoakum Little League vice president.

YOAKUM, Texas – The Yoakum Little League will upgrade the lighting at the baseball and softball fields at Yoakum City Park to increase safety and allow more tournaments to be held at the complex, thanks to a $23,520 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of Yoakum. The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $5,880 in matching funds from the Little League, will help the league purchase energy-efficient lights, providing a safer environment for players and spectators. The grant also will allow the city to host tournaments that include games extending into nighttime hours. “A lack of lighting is a safety issue,” said Raymond Rosas, president of Yoakum Little League. “There are so many dark areas on the fields. Upgrading the lighting will make it easier for the kids to see the ball. In the long run, it will help our city save money since the lighting will be energy efficient.” Rosas said the Yoakum Little League primarily uses the fields, but the Yoakum High School softball team also uses a field at the complex. Yoakum city staff will install and maintain the lighting. “Without this grant, we wouldn’t have been able to take on this project,” Rosas said. “Most of our support is from donations. Receiving this grant makes it possible for us to get our kids what they need so they can play in a safe environment and enjoy baseball and softball to its fullest.” The community grant is one of 36 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund 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. The City of Yoakum is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program. Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. 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. For more information, visit lcra.org.

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