The Lower Colorado River Authority has awarded nearly $1.1 million in community grants to support projects across its electric, water and transmission service areas, including funding for emergency services, libraries, parks and community facilities.
In the most recent grant cycle, LCRA awarded $1,096,247 to help fund 41 projects throughout its service territory, which includes all or parts of 73 counties.
Projects funded through the grants include major upgrades to the El Progreso Memorial Library in Uvalde, the purchase of a new brush truck for the Muldoon Volunteer Fire Department in Fayette County, a swift-water rescue boat for the Concan Volunteer Fire Department and improvements to a new emergency operations center in Colorado County.
Many of the grants focus on supporting first responders.
Funding will help provide new self-contained breathing apparatus equipment for departments in Bandera, Boling in Wharton County, Hoover Valley in Burnet County, Laguna Vista and Wall in Tom Green County. Other grants will support fire station expansions in Dove Creek and Goldthwaite, construction of a lighted helipad in Delhi and the purchase of personal protective equipment for firefighters in Bastrop County.
LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said the grants are intended to strengthen communities throughout the authority’s service area.
“These grants are designed to contribute to the health, safety and development of communities,” Wilson said. “By supporting community projects such as improved libraries and providing new equipment for first responders, the grants help nonprofit organizations provide better and expanded services across Texas.”
Wilson said LCRA is especially proud to support emergency responders.
“We are thankful for the many first responders who give their time and talents to help protect us as they respond to emergency calls,” Wilson said. “They need updated, working equipment to do their jobs properly, and we are pleased to help provide new gear and safety equipment to assist in making their work safer.”
Other grants will fund improvements to sports facilities and parks in Cottonwood Shores, Eastland, Granite Shoals, Lampasas, Lawn, Rockne in Bastrop County, San Saba and Waelder. Community and event centers in Brenham, Bronte, Carmine, Driftwood in Hays County, Louise in Wharton County and Thompsonville in Gonzales County also will receive funding for upgrades and renovations.
In Bandera County, Bandera Fire and Rescue received a $25,000 grant from LCRA and Bandera Electric Cooperative for new self-contained breathing apparatus equipment.
The Castle Lake Ranch Volunteer Fire Department in Pipe Creek received $20,236 from LCRA and Bandera Electric Cooperative to upgrade its fire station and purchase new emergency equipment.
Since the community grants program began, LCRA has awarded 2,178 grants totaling more than $55 million.
When combined with $248 million in community- raised matching funds, the program has invested more than $303 million in local communities.
LCRA Community Grants of up to $50,000 are awarded twice a year for capital projects benefiting volunteer fire departments, emergency responders, schools, cities, counties and tax-exempt nonprofit organizations.
Applications for the next grant cycle will be available in January and are due by midnight Jan. 31.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the community grants program, LCRA will award one $100,000 grant during the January 2026 application period in addition to its regular grants of up to $50,000.
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