Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and LCRA representatives present a $17,710 grant to the Blue Volunteer Fire Department for a new emergency generator and fuel tank. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Kate Ramzinski, LCRA regional affairs representative; Sherry Murphy, Bluebonnet's Giddings-area community representative; Russell Jurk, Bluebonnet Board member; Ward Taylor, VFD assistant fire chief; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter and Matthew L. “Matt” Arthur, LCRA board members; Rick Isaacks, VFD fire chief; and Dan Brunner, VFD captain.

The Blue Volunteer Fire Department will soon purchase a new emergency generator and propane fuel tank that will help the department continue to provide essential services even during severe weather or blackouts, thanks to a $17,710 grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $4,428 in matching funds from the VFD, will enable the department to provide a safe shelter for people in the community during emergencies, as well as keep its trucks ready to go during extreme weather. The department, which covers 103 square miles, faced unexpected challenges that highlighted the need for a new generator during Winter Storm Uri in 2021.

“I’ve been with the department for 14 years and had never seen anything like it,” assistant chief Ward Taylor said. “We had tanks freeze and break, and we were completely caught by surprise. This grant will enable us to keep our trucks warm and ready at a moment’s notice.”

The new equipment also will allow the department to open its doors to provide shelter during emergency situations such as power outages or flooding.

“We are almost a completely self-funded department, so grants like this from LCRA and Bluebonnet are huge for us,” Taylor said. “We’ll now be able to provide a safe and warm spot for people to come to should there be a need. Anyone that requires electricity for life support, whether they need oxygen or are on dialysis, they’ll be able to rely on us.”

The community grant is one of four grants being awarded by Bluebonnet and LCRA through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission 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 is a partner in the grant program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January 2025. More information is available here

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and LCRA representatives present a $24,400 grant to the Bastrop County First Responders for emergency equipment. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Tom Oney, LCRA chief people officer and executive vice president of external affairs; Gregory Klaus, Bastrop County judge; Matthew L. “Matt” Arthur and Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA board members; Zackary Caviness, First Responders’ paramedic; Preston McGrew, First Responders’ vice president and paramedic; Phil Wilson, LCRA general manager; State Rep. Stan Gerdes; Rick Arnic, LCRA regional affairs representative; Josh Coy, Bluebonnet's Bastrop-area community representative; and Garrett Gutierrez, Bluebonnet superintendent of operations.

A $24,400 grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority will enable the Bastrop County First Responders nonprofit organization to purchase 10 cardiac monitors/defibrillators and other emergency equipment to provide medical care before ambulances arrive.

Bastrop County First Responders is a volunteer organization of 45 licensed EMTs and paramedics stationed throughout the county. Members respond to emergencies in their personal vehicles and provide care for the sick and injured until an ambulance arrives.

“Our responders are trained to provide high-level care and often arrive on the scene within minutes,” said Preston McGrew, vice president of the first responders’ organization. “But without proper equipment, they’ve been limited in the support they can provide.’’

The grant, along with $6,100 in matching funds from the first responders, will allow the group to purchase cardiac monitors/defibrillators and 15 intraosseous devices, which provide a hollow needle that can be inserted into bone marrow for infusion of medication or fluids in emergency situations.

“Without enough cardiac monitors and other intraosseous devices, we’ve been limited to basic interventions,” McGrew said. “With this grant, we’ll finally have the tools to deliver comprehensive life support in the crucial minutes before an ambulance arrives.”

The community grant is one of four grants being awarded by Bluebonnet and LCRA through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission 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 is a partner in the grant program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January 2025. More information is available here