LCRA, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PARTNER TO AWARD GRANTS FOR SEVERAL PROJECTS

Josh Blaschke November 10, 2020

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(from left) Steve Smith, Washington County Fairgrounds livestock manager; Lori Berger, LCRA board member; Joy Fuchs, Washington County Commissioner.
(courtesy LCRA)

The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) recently provided grants to aid renovation and improvement projects across Washington County and in Bellville.

The LCRA, through its Community Development Partnership Program, has awarded over $68,000 to Washington County, the Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department, the Brenham Heritage Museum, and the Austin County Museum Association. The LCRA provided the grants with assistance from the Cities of Brenham and Bellville, along with Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.

(from left) Lori Berger, LCRA board member; Matt Kolajajak, VFD assistant chief; Robert Mikeska, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative board member.
(courtesy LCRA)

The LCRA and the City of Brenham awarded a $22,150 grant to Washington County to help purchase and install energy-efficient LED bulbs for all buildings at the Washington County Fairgrounds. The grant, along with $27,850 in matching funds, will replace outdated and inefficient lighting in 15 buildings and barns.

The LCRA partnered with Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to award a $25,000 grant to the Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department for the purchase of a new emergency generator. The grant will be paired with $36,802 in matching funds from the department to purchase a generator to help provide uninterrupted fire protection and emergency services, even during natural disasters or regional power outages.

(from left) Seth McMeans, secretary/treasurer, museum board of directors; Lori Berger, LCRA board member; Tiffany Morisak, vice chair, museum board of directors.
(courtesy LCRA)

The Brenham Heritage Museum will purchase seven rolling window shades and 750 square feet of carpet tiles for the Bus Depot Gallery, following a $1,528 grant from the LCRA and the City of Brenham. Alongside $2,292 in matching funds, the grant will help purchase and install the window shades and carpet tiles to better regulate summer and winter temperatures inside the Bus Depot Gallery.

A $20,000 grant from the LCRA and the City of Bellville will help the Austin County Museum Association preserve and enhance the historic former jail, now a museum that provides information about the jail and its role in Austin County history. Combined with matching funds of $22,830, the grant will pay for electrical system upgrades and the installation of custom-made storm windows at the jail museum.

(from left), Lori Berger, LCRA board member; Tim Lapham, Austin County Judge; Bruce Noviskie, chairman, museum association board of directors.
(courtesy LCRA)

These community grants are part of 27 awarded recently through the 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.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. To learn more, visit www.lcra.org/cdpp.

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