LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River generating and transmitting electric power providing a clean, reliable water supply and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. The program is part of LCRAвЂ™s effort to give back to the communities it serves.ДЄpplications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January.

The community grant is one of 32 grants awarded recently through LCRAвЂ™s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRAвЂ™s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. вЂњWith this grant, we have the money to build this addition without shortchanging it. вЂњWeвЂ™ve been raising money for this project for years,вЂќ Teague said. The fire station complex is also home to a community center, and the department hosts many events throughout the year to raise funds and encourage volunteering. At some point in time, and itвЂ™s happened, weвЂ™ve needed other peopleвЂ™s help. вЂњWe are Lake Coleman Volunteer Fire Department, but I guarantee if somebody calls and says, вЂWe need your help,вЂ™ weвЂ™re going to go. вЂњIn 2010, when the big fires were going on in San Angelo, we even sent trucks to them as well,вЂќ Teague said. The department serves a population of about 6,500 in the Lake Coleman community and surrounding areas and helps neighboring departments whenever it can. вЂњThe new area in the fire station will help protect expensive firetrucks and other life-saving equipment, and LCRA is happy to help support this worthy project.вЂќ вЂњFirefighters are ready to respond at a momentвЂ™s notice, and itвЂ™s important their equipment be ready to roll as well,вЂќ Wilson said. LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said LCRA is proud to support the department as it works to extend the life of its equipment. In addition, the building will have gutters that drain into a storage tank to capture and store rainwater for use in fighting fires. вЂњThose two trucks and our equipment being inside a building that is insulated will make it all last two to three times longer than it normally would sitting in the elements outside,вЂќ Teague said. The building will feature energy-efficient components such as insulation, LED lights and a solar-powered charger for truck batteries and radios. вЂњWe are going to add two bays that will house both of those trucks and give us a storage area for extra hoses and other items that have been sitting outside.вЂќ вЂњWe have a truck sitting outside right now and another truck in a bay that is very, very tight and hard to get in and out of without hitting something,вЂќ said Fire Chief Randy Teague. The new building will protect the resources from weather exposure and increase the useful life of equipment stored there. The department will contribute an additional $32,500 toward the project. COLEMAN COUNTY, Texas вЂ“ The Lake Coleman Volunteer Fire Department will expand its fire station to house additional firetrucks and equipment, thanks to a $24,900 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.

Coleman fire commander