Co-op members help their communities thrive with nine grants recently delivered
(Seguin) — Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC) and its members continue to show their support for non-profit organizations in the area. GVEC recently released its list of Power Up community grant recipients. Nine non-profit groups were awarded grants earlier this spring.
According to GVEC, the latest contributions came to a total of just shy of $160,000. Since the first grant distribution in 2012, GVEC says it has given out more than $3.2 million in grants, which have helped to fund 200 community projects. The projects range from the purchase of life-saving equipment for first responders and medical facilities to the renovation of local museums, parks, historic places, and community meeting spaces.
In the most recent round of distributions, the city of Stockdale Public Library, New Berlin Community Club, Seguin-Guadalupe County Senior Citizens Center and the SS American Memorial Foundation in Seguin each received a Power Up grant for $20,000. While the Lake Dunlap Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) received a Power Up for $11,770.
The City of Stockdale Public Library will apply its grant toward repairing its old facility. Until three years ago, the library was housed in a 2,280 square foot pier and beam building. At that time, the library discovered substantial termite damage to the structure’s subflooring, rendering the entire site unusable. The library has since operated from a significantly smaller structure loaned for temporary use from a local church. The reduced space has forced the library to discontinue many services provided from the old building. GVEC’s Power Up grant will help repair and upgrade the old flooring, replace the roof, and repaint the building inside and out.
The New Berlin Community Club will apply its award toward a complete remodel of the New Berlin Community Center. An estimated 12,000-15,000 residents from Guadalupe, Wilson and Bexar counties utilize the facility annually. The site hosts fundraisers, community events, birthday and graduation parties, family reunions, and much more. Additionally, the Marion Independent School District has designated the center as an off-site location for any emergency requiring the district to move students to another location.
The SS American Memorial Foundation will apply its award toward purchasing a Mariner Portable Toilet module with two toilets and sinks, a urinal, and AC/heating. The facility will permanently replace two rented portable toilets that don’t include air conditioning/heating or other amenities offered by the Mariner unit. The SS American Memorial Foundation serves as a rest and recuperation (R&R) destination for area active duty military personnel. Its grounds, along the Guadalupe River in Seguin, include a “living” war memorial building. The facility, which opened in 2014, is also a place where wounded veterans can seek support, solace and healing.
The Foundation also hosts thousands of Seguin residents each year through numerous onsite events, including weddings, funerals, church services, campouts, family gatherings, nonprofit fundraisers and more.
The Seguin-Guadalupe County Senior Citizens Center will apply its grant toward the purchase of a new AC/heating system for its 12,000 square foot main building.
The center provides support and stimulation for Seguin senior citizens, giving them a place to be physically and mentally active, and social. The center is also a popular venue for other community events, attracting residents of all ages from Seguin and nearby areas for birthday parties, baby showers, civic meetings, special events and much more.
The Lake Dunlap Volunteer Fire Department is expected to use its Power Up award to purchase new supply hoses and related equipment. The VFD serves a rapidly growing area of roughly eight square miles just outside of the city of New Braunfels. The department needs upgraded equipment that’s fully compatible with firefighting infrastructure being added with numerous new housing subdivisions being built across the area. Lake Dunlap’s Power Up grant will help make this happen.
Other Power Up grants recently awarded include $20,000 to Hallettsville VFD for eight sets of new PPE gear; $13,714 to Yorktown EMS for two mechanical CPR devices; $19,191 to Ottine VFD for upgrading and replacing self-contained breathing apparatus packs and related equipment; and $15,000 to Shiner First Methodist Church for the Tri-County Ramp initiative.
“Although applying for a Power Up grant is becoming more competitive as an increasing number of organizations learn about the program, you shouldn’t let this discourage you from applying,” says GVEC Community Relations Representative Christine Presley. “We receive applications for many worthwhile projects but can only select a few each distribution cycle. If you didn’t receive a grant this time around, we urge you to apply again and to check in with us anytime. We’re here to answer your questions and assist with the application process—we’ll do everything possible to help you submit a well-prepared packet.”
The next application deadline for the Power Up community grant program is August 15, 2022. For program qualifications and an application, visit gvec.org, or call Presley at 830.857.1218 for assistance. Grant applications are also available at GVEC’s five area offices, including its office here in Seguin.