AUSTIN – The Lower Colorado River Authority recently awarded nearly $815,000 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 34 community projects, including the construction of a new build- ing to house firetrucks and emer gency equipment in Coleman County, needed upgrades to a community hall in Weimar and improvements to youth sports facilities in Austin, Bandera, Bastrop and Lavaca counties.
The CDPP grants also will help pay for major improvements at local parks, museums and other community attractions or meeting spaces, including helping to provide new lights for a pickleball court in Bastrop, a new pavilion for a park in Blanco and new air conditioning for the old Shiner High School gym.
LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said the grants help LCRA give back to the communities it serves across Texas. “These projects add value and vitality to communities by improving public health and safety and boosting economic development,” Wilson said. “LCRA is proud to help fund these projects to support communities throughout our service area.”
Almost half of the recently awarded grants will assist first responders with projects such
as upgrades to fire stations or the purchase of specialized fire - fighting gear, rescue tools and life-saving equipment.
“These grants will help protect the first responders who work so hard to keep the rest of us safe,” Wilson said. “LCRA is pleased to support first responders and say thank you for their continuing dedication to public service and their communities.”
To date, LCRA has awarded 1,967 community grants totaling more than $50 million.
When combined with more than $234 million in community- raised matching funds, the program has invested almost $285 million in local communities.
Some of the 34 grants awarded in the most recent grant cycle to the Austin, Fayette and Colorado Counties are:
• BELLVILLE: A $50,000 grant from LCRA and the City of Bellville to Bellville Little League for a new lighting system.
• EAGLE LAKE: A $50,000 grant from LCRA to the Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Department for the replacement of a leaky roof and new LED lighting at its fire station.
• FLATONIA: A $13,311 grant from LCRA and the City of Flatonia to the Flatonia Volunteer Fire Department for new fire hoses, valves and adapters.
• ROUND TOP: A $25,000 grant from LCRA to the James Dick Foundation for the Performing Arts for a new public address system inside a concert hall at the Round Top Festival Institute.
• WEIMAR: A $24,924 grant from LCRA and the City of Weimar to the Veterans Memorial Park of Weimar for updates to the electrical system and lighting in the nonprofit organization's community hall.
