The South Lee County Volunteer Fire Department will repair and update its station’s parking lot, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $20,000 in matching funds, will replace the gravel parking lot with 8 inches of reinforced concrete and add handicapped-accessible parking in the front of the station.
With the support of a $50,000 grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority, the Caldwell County Fire Chiefs Association will construct a new fire training facility that can be used by fire departments throughout the area.
With generous support from the community, the association has raised an additional $60,000 in matching funds for the new facility, which can be used by departments in Caldwell County and neighboring counties.
A $20,000 grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority will help the McMahan Volunteer Fire Department replace the deteriorating 30-year-old metal siding on its fire station.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $5,000 in matching funds, will allow the department to re-side the fire station and get rid of openings in the existing siding that are leading to energy waste and higher heating and cooling bills. The holes also expose valuable equipment to weather damage, wildlife and theft.
A $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative will help the Fayetteville Community Foundation upgrade the electrical wiring and water fixtures at the Fayetteville Area Heritage Museum.
A $20,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative will help the Tanglewood Volunteer Fire Department purchase a rescue truck to transport life-saving equipment to emergency scenes.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $5,000 in matching funds from the Tanglewood VFD, will help replace the fire department’s current rescue truck, which has been out of service for six months due to mechanical issues.
A $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative will help the Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department purchase an emergency generator.
The grant will be paired with $36,802 in matching funds from the Chappell Hill VFD to purchase a generator to help provide uninterrupted fire protection and emergency services even during natural disasters or regional power outages.
By Mary Ann Roser and Melissa Segrest
Do you remember the friendly person dressed in a tan shirt who walked up your drive to your house every month? He or she peered at your electric meter, decoding its dials, numbers and circling arrows. The person quickly typed numbers into a curious black device and then left, only to return the next month.