Bluebonnet and LCRA representatives present a $25,000 grant to the Texas Public Safety Training Academy to expand its training facilities at a new site in Bastrop County. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: adults Jayme Myrick, academy training specialist; Mary Teague and her husband, Nicholas Teague, EMS program director and fire chief; Philip Marquette, assistant fire chief and deputy director; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA board member; Roderick Emanuel, Bluebonnet Board Vice President/Vice Chairman; Sherry Murphy, Bluebonnet's Giddings-area community representative; and Elizabeth Ehlers, LCRA regional affairs representative. Children, from left to right, are Robbie Myrick, and Ella, Pearl and Noah Teague.

The Texas Public Safety Training Academy will soon expand the training opportunities it offers to local emergency responders, thanks to a $25,000 grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority. 

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $63,020 in matching funds from the academy, will enable the department to move its training facility to a larger site and add a burn site for live-fire training.

“We’ve seen time and again how devastating wildfires can be in Bastrop County,” said Philip Marquette, assistant fire chief and deputy director of the Texas Public Safety Training Academy. “From the Bastrop County Complex Fire in 2011 to more recent incidents like the Hudson Fire in 2023, these events have stretched our resources thin. This new, bigger facility will help us train more responders in wildfire suppression, structural firefighting and emergency medical response so we’re better prepared when the next emergency strikes.”

In addition to serving as a dedicated training facility for volunteer fire departments, law enforcement agencies and EMTs, the expanded location also will be available for public use related to emergency preparedness.

“We want to ensure that everyone involved in protecting our communities has a place to come together, learn and prepare,” Marquette said. “The facility will be a central hub for emergency training and preparedness while also accommodating for other community use such as disaster preparedness workshops, recruitment events and nonprofit initiatives.”

The academy will move from its current location in Bastrop to a new site in northern Bastrop County. The grant will assist the academy in purchasing two portable buildings, adding a sidewalk and accessible parking and connecting utilities to the site.

The Texas Public Safety Training Academy strives to provide low-to-no-cost education in rural and underserved communities in the fields of emergency medical services, firefighting and private security.

“We run a pretty tight budget, so this grant really helps us move at a much faster pace,” Marquette said. “It’s been a big contributor in allowing us to expand our facilities and better serve the region’s emergency response needs.”

The community grant is one of three grants recently 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 eligible capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. Bluebonnet 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 July 2025. More information is available here

Bluebonnet and LCRA representatives present a $17,478 grant to the Round Top Library Association for an ADA-accessible deck and outdoor classroom. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Shirley Hernandez-Ross, association board member; Ashlee Lyons, Round Top Family Library programs coordinator; Kyle Merten, Bluebonnet's Brenham-area community representative; Amy Bone, association vice president; Chasidy Nowicki, Bluebonnet intern; Adalynn Lyons, library summer camper; Pam Langford, association board member; Craig Moreau, library executive director; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA board member; Byron Balke, Bluebonnet Board Assistant Secretary/Treasurer; Evie McCullough, library summer camper; Matthew L. “Matt” Arthur, LCRA board member; Keelia Ritch, library manager; Suzanne Ellis, association board member; Sherry Murphy, Bluebonnet's Giddings-area community representative; Stacie Brown, library executive coordinator; and Kate Ramzinski, LCRA regional affairs representative.

The Round Top Family Library will soon build an ADA-accessible deck and outdoor classroom space at its community center annex, thanks to a $17,478 grant from the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and Lower Colorado River Authority. 

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $6,000 in matching funds from the Round Top Library Association, will help create a welcoming outdoor environment for educational programs, wellness activities and community events. The space will connect the library’s education annex and agriculture building. 

“Like many nonprofits, we’ve made the most of the spaces we’ve had, but they haven’t always been open to all,” said Craig Moreau, executive director of the Round Top Family Library. “This grant is helping us create a space that reflects our core values: a great library, a center for education and a true community gathering place for all abilities. We’re so proud to partner with Bluebonnet and LCRA on this.” 

The outdoor classroom will support programs such as Junior Master Gardener, yoga and STEM classes, while also serving as a meeting space for book clubs, wellness programs and inclusive events. The deck’s design emphasizes accessibility and sustainability, including a rainwater catchment system, enhancing agricultural programming and conservation education. 

“Our patrons, from the youngest students to the seniors, are incredibly excited about this new space,” Moreau said. “It opens up more opportunities to host our free weekly programs, support workforce development and help people reconnect with nature and the outdoors. We expect to welcome more than 8,000 participants this year, and this project helps us serve them better than ever.” 

Round Top Family Library is an independent nonprofit that serves Fayette County and the surrounding counties. In addition to traditional library services, the organization offers free educational and enrichment programs year-round to people of all ages and backgrounds. 

The community grant is one of three grants recently 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 eligible capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. Bluebonnet 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 July 2025. More information is available here