LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative representatives present an $18,880 grant to the McMahan Community Women’s Club to upgrade and renovate the McMahan Community Center. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program.
Pictured, from left to right, are: Barbara Shelton, Caldwell County commissioner; Ray Chandler, Caldwell County deputy constable; Martha Aiken, club treasurer; Avenell LeMar, club vice president; Kathy Hutto, restoration committee member; Lori A. Berger, LCRA Board member; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; Candyce Mueller, club secretary; Rick Arnic, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Joyce Buckner, Bluebonnet community development representative; and Pat Parsons, club president.
The McMahan Community Center will undergo a major renovation thanks to an $18,880 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $4,720 in matching contributions, will allow the McMahan Community Women’s Club, which maintains the community center, to upgrade the center’s electrical wiring and install new ceiling and wall paneling, energy-efficient lights, rain gutters and rain collection. The pot-holed driveway also will be repaired.
Martha Aiken, club treasurer, says some of the electrical wiring was installed in the 1930s and is well past time for needing upgrades. Rain gutters will protect the wooden building from wood rot.
“The community center is centrally located and is one of the few community gathering places in the area,” Aiken said.
“Various organizations and the community rely on the space for regular meetings and family gatherings. We truly want to make it a welcoming space and are pleased to leave it to the next generation in good shape: functional, comfortable and lovely.”
The community grant is one of a number of grants recently awarded through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which 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 1-31. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.