$47,855 Grant Made to Schulenburg Fire Dept.
LCRA and City of Schulenburg representatives present a $47,855 grant to the Schulenburg Volunteer Fire Department for a new building to store firetrucks and supplies. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Pete Garcia Jr., Schulenburg VFD president; Tami Walker, city administrator; Elaine Kocian, mayor; Phil Wilson, LCRA general manager; Drew Brossmann, Schulenburg VFD assistant chief and Fayette County commissioner, Precinct 4; Randy Wick, Schulenburg VFD assistant chief; and Paul Zapalac, Schulenburg VFD secretary and treasurer.
With the support of a $47,855 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of Schulenburg, the Schulenburg Volunteer Fire Department will construct a new building to store and protect its firetrucks and other emergency equipment.
The Community Develop ment Partnership Program grant, along with $20,000 in matching funds, will pay for constructing an annex to house up to six firetrucks and provide storage for equipment and supplies.
“We are currently keeping a firetruck outside because we have run out of space,” said Jeff Proske, fire chief of Schulenburg VFD. “The new building will help us protect our trucks, preserve our equipment and allow for future expansion of the department.”
Proske said the department also is designing a new rescue truck that would have to be kept outdoors without the new building.
He said firefighters expect to be busier than ever as Schulenburg continues to grow and Interstate 10 expands, bringing more traffic through the area.
“The new annex will help our firefighters be better prepared and better protected,” Proske said. “Receiving this grant shows how much people appreciate what we do. It means everything to be supported by LCRA and our community.”
The community grant is one of 32 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.