The Lower Colorado River Authority is accepting applications this month for community grants for projects such as improvements to fire stations, community centers, sports fields, libraries and other facilities, as well as providing updated gear and equipment for emergency responders. One $100,000 grant will be offered in addition to dozens of grants of up to $50,000.
LCRA awards community grants twice a year to volunteer fire departments, emergency responders, libraries, civic groups, museums and other tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, in addition to local governments, schools and economic development organizations. The grants are available to organizations in 73 counties throughout LCRA’s service territory and are not available to individuals, for-profit entities, professional associations, social service projects or limited-use facilities.
Applications for the next round of LCRA Community Grants are available online at lcra.org/grants and must be submitted by midnight Jan. 31. Most grants are for $25,000 or less, but several will be for projects of up to $50,000. One grant of up to $100,000 also will be awarded this grant cycle to commemorate the grant program’s 30th anniversary.
Applicants with total project costs greater than $5,000 must supply matching funds of at least 20%. The projects must benefit or be available to an entire community and improve the value of a capital asset through building, renovating or purchasing equipment.
Organizations in all or part of the following counties are eligible for grants: Aransas, Austin, Bandera, Bastrop, Blanco, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Callahan, Cameron, Coke, Coleman, Colorado, Comal, Concho, Coryell, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, DeWitt, Dimmit, Eastland, Ector, Edwards, Fayette, Gillespie, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hamilton, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee, Llano, Mason, Matagorda, Maverick, McCulloch, Medina, Menard, Midland, Mills, Nolan, Nueces, Pecos, Real, San Patricio, San Saba, Schleicher, Starr, Sterling, Sutton, Taylor, Terrell, Tom Green, Travis, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Waller, Washington, Wharton, Williamson and Zavala.
Visit lcra.org/grants for information on eligibility requirements or to apply for a grant. For more information, email grants@lcra.org or call 800-776-5272, ext. 3140 or ext.1627.