Community Grants

Community Grants is sponsored by LCRA. LCRA supports local communities in its service area with grants up to $100,000, focusing on projects that enhance community well-being.

Community Grant Program - LCRA - Energy, Water, Community of the page as possible --> LCRA supports local communities in its service area with grants of up to $100,000.

$100,000 grants are here to stay $100,000 grants are here to stay LCRA doubles its top community grant and makes it a standing commitment Closing the gap on long-awaited expansion Closing the gap on long-awaited expansion LCRA awards $100,000 grant to Divide VFD to expand its fire station 2,137 grants and counting 2,218 grants and counting LCRA has invested more than $307 million in local communities.

Applications for the next cycle will be accepted Jan. 1-31, 2027 Navigating the application Tips for completing the grant application Final steps to fulfill the grant agreement Volunteer fire departments, emergency responders, libraries, civic groups, museums and other tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, as well as local governments, schools and hospitals, are eligible to apply.

Projects must be located within LCRA’s wholesale electric or water service area, or areas in which LCRA Transmission Services Corporation provides transmission services View a map of LCRA’s service areas . Projects eligible for funding Grant projects must improve the value of a capital asset by building, renovating or purchasing equipment, and must benefit an entire community. Review recent grants .

Grant application requirements LCRA awards up to $100,000 for capital improvement projects that benefit an entire community. Applicants requesting more than $5,000 in grant funding must supply matching funds of at least 20% of the total project cost. Proposals must include plans, detailed budget, financials, vendor quotes or estimates, and IRS determination documentation.

See more FAQs . How often grants are awarded Community grants are awarded twice a year and online grant applications are accepted in January and July. Login or create an account in the submission portal.

Complete the application beginning Jan. 1 or July 1. The application page includes detailed steps, drop-down menus, fillable forms and places to upload documents.

Submit your application by Jan. 31 or July 31. You will receive an email confirming the submittal.

Once the application window closes, LCRA will update you via email as to where your proposal is in the review process. The review process takes up to 10 weeks and begins after the application window closes. We will email every applicant about the final status of their application and whether their project will receive a grant.

Upgrade lights up tennis courts Uvalde library becomes a stronger community hub New equipment helps emergency response What are LCRA Community Grants? LCRA awards grants to worthy community projects in the LCRA wholesale power, water and transmission service territories through its Community Grants program.

The program was established in 1995 to provide funds to rural, economically challenged communities that have difficulty fundraising for their needed projects. LCRA Community Grants support economic diversification in local communities; contribute to the health, safety and development of a community; or improve the quality or quantity of services essential for the development of viable communities and economic growth.

The grants are awarded twice a year for capital improvement projects. The projects must benefit or be available to an entire community and must improve the value of a capital asset by building, renovating or purchasing equipment. What groups are eligible to apply?

Tax-exempt nonprofit organizations are eligible, as well as local governments, schools and hospitals including: Volunteer fire departments. Cities, counties and economic development corporations. Special districts such as libraries, schools, hospitals, emergency services and municipal utilities.

The proposed grant project must have a physical address located within LCRA’s service areas .

Organizations in all or part of the following counties are eligible for Community 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.

Grants are not available to individuals, for-profit entities, professional associations, social service projects or limited-use facilities. What are the eligibility requirements? The proposed grant project must have a physical address located within LCRA’s service areas .

Projects must benefit or be available to an entire community. Projects should, at a minimum, have a 10-year useful life. Projects must be completed within 12 months of the date the grant is funded.

Failure to complete the project on schedule or to abide by the terms of the agreement may result in LCRA requiring the recipient to return the grant. An applicant must not have received an LCRA community grant within 24 months. Projects must be maintained for the public purpose for which the grant was awarded.

What projects are eligible for funding? Projects should encourage economic diversification in local communities; contribute to the health, safety and development of a community; or improve the quality or quantity of services essential for the development of viable communities and economic growth.

LCRA Community Grants places emphasis on projects for volunteer fire departments, projects that include public safety lifesaving equipment and/or public education, demonstration components and projects that address needs caused by natural disasters. Favorable attention also is given to projects that have a positive impact on natural resources and include: Water conservation components such as: Low-flow toilets and fixtures.

Rainwater catchment systems. Energy conservation components such as: LED lighting and energy efficient bulbs. What projects are NOT eligible for funding?

Projects that are not available to an entire community. Projects that already are complete or in fundraising mode. Lodging areas/facilities (except for first-responder facilities).

Projects located at a private residence that is not maintained for public use or purpose. Land acquisition, debt-reduction campaigns and capital campaigns projects. Program operating costs, administrative and/or indirect costs, such as personnel and overhead expenses.

Social service projects and limited use facilities such as animal shelters/rescues, food pantries, transitional housing and substance abuse facilities. Appliances, unless they are part of a renovation project and are commercial in nature or built-in and would be conveyed with the property if sold.

Planning or consultant fees, grant writing fees, training, workshops or seminars (except for public firefighting organizations, including volunteer fire departments). Additional items that are not eligible: Tree trimming or removal. Animal kennels or enclosures.

Computer and/or video equipment. Furniture (including chairs and tables). Body armor and personal defense devices.

Two-way radios, repeaters, base units and pagers. What are the matching fund requirements? LCRA requires applicants to supply at least 20% of the total cost of projects greater than $5,000.

Matching funds must be available at the time of application submittal and documented in the grant application with financial or bank statements and/or letters of credit or monetary support. Matching funds can include pledged donations and/or awarded funds reserved for the project. (Application must include documentation to substantiate the value and availability.)

Funding awards in pending status at the time of grant submittal are not eligible as matching funds. In-kind volunteer labor and/or donations of materials or equipment use may be used as matching contributions and must be identified and explained in the application and values calculated at current prevailing rates. See more about the matching requirements .

What documentation is required? A detailed description of the proposed project. An IRS determination letter or Form 990, if a nonprofit.

A detailed project cost summary, including itemized costs and funding sources. A current financial or bank statement. Vendor quotes or estimates.

A list of key staff and members of the applicant organizations’ Board of Directors. Photos of the project, if applicable. See tips for completing the grant application .

How does the review process work? The review process can take up to ten weeks from the application deadline. During that time, an internal committee reviews each project application and makes a recommendation to the LCRA Community Grants Review Committee .

See the score sheet for information on factors considered in the review process. From time to time, the review committee may occasionally award a smaller grant than requested because of limited funds or ineligible project components. You will receive update emails during the review process informing you of the status of your proposal.

All applicants will be notified by email of the final status of their application. What is the grant application timeline? Online beginning Jan.

1 and July 1 Midnight on Jan.

31 and July 31 Takes up to 10 weeks after deadline Update emails provide proposal status Funding takes six to eight weeks after award notice Required within 12 months of the funding date Failure to complete the grant project on schedule or abide by the terms of the letter agreement may result in LCRA requiring the recipient to return the grant 24 months after grant funds are received and the prior grant-funded project is completed How much money is awarded?

Twice a year, LCRA awards grants up to $100,000 for capital improvement projects that serve an entire community. Most grants are for $25,000 or less, but several grants of up to $50,000 and one grant of up to $100,000 also will be awarded. Over $2 million is awarded in grants every year.

Number of applications received: 611 Total number of grants awarded: 81 Funding awarded: $2,177,486 Number of applications received: 306 Total number of grants awarded: 82 Funding awarded: $1,999,742 Number of applications received: 261 Total number of grants awarded: 89 Funding awarded: $1,998,703 What is a capital improvement? A project that fixes a defect or design flaw. A project that extends the useful life of property.

A project that increases capacity, productivity or efficiency. A project that creates an addition, expansion or physical enlargement. A project that replaces a major component or structural part of the property.

A project that adds value to property in a significant way, as opposed to repairs and maintenance, which preserves existing value. Sheila Slagel, grants program manager [email protected] ​​​​​​​​​​ Liz Mundine, grants program administrator