WASHINGTON CO. FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION RECEIVES GRANT

Mark Whitehead May 10, 2018

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The Washington County Firefighters Association (WCFFA) soon will purchase new handheld radios for the volunteer fire departments and dispatch center in Washington County, thanks to a $24,562 community development grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with more than $6,000 in matching funds, will allow WCFFA to purchase 19 new handheld radios. Each of Washington County’s 10 volunteer fire departments will receive a radio and the dispatch center will receive several more for backup.

Doug Zwiener, WCFFA secretary and treasurer, said the radios are essential to communication during disasters. During recent floods and Hurricane Harvey, it became clear that the county volunteer fire departments did not have enough handheld radios.

“This grant will enhance emergency communications throughout the entire county and improve the safety of every volunteer fire department in our county,” Zwiener said. “This project would not be possible without the cooperation of private, public and volunteer groups working together to protect our neighbors. LCRA continues to give back to our community, and we gratefully acknowledge its and Bluebonnet’s support.”

Representatives from LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative present a $24,562 grant to the Washington County Firefighters Association for handheld radios. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Kate Holman, LCRA Governmental Affairs representative; Robert Mikeska, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative board director; Lori A. Berger, LCRA Board member; Don Koester, Washington County Precinct 1 commissioner; Michael Kmiec, Chappell Hill VFD fire chief; Doug Zwiener, Washington County Firefighter Association secretary and treasurer; Kirk Hanath, Washington County Precinct 3 commissioner; Ken Mutscher, Bluebonnet director; and Hondo Powell, Bluebonnet representative.

The volunteer fire departments in Washington County serve about 37,500 people and provide aid to surrounding counties. The WCFFA acts as an advisory board to county commissioners on fire matters such as burn bans, fireworks sales and emergency response.

The community grant is one of a number of grants recently awarded through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. The program provides economic development and community assistance grants to cities, counties, volunteer fire departments, regional development councils and other nonprofit organizations in LCRA’s wholesale electric and water service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative 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 July 1-July 31. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp. Story and photo courtesy of LCRA.

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