Local organizations among 11 receiving community development grants

By Editor | July 20, 2023

Pearsall’s El Sacrificio and Cotulla’s Alexander Memorial Library were among 11 organizations awarded $5,500 in grants by Medina Electric Cooperative’s Community Empowerment Program in June, encouraging community and economic development throughout the 17 counties served by the cooperative.
The program focuses on projects that encourage economic diversity, contribute to community health and development, and improve the quality or quantity of services essential for the development of viable communities.
The organizations will receive grants to further their community impact.
Recipients included Alexander Memorial Library (Cotulla) – $400. The grant is being used to purchase and install security cameras in and outside the library as an extra security measure.
El Sacrificio (Pearsall) – $500. The grant is being used to purchase a security light for the organization’s facility.
Castroville Public Library (Castroville) – $500. The grant is being used to purchase replacement furniture and interactive equipment in the children’s room of the library.
Devine Independent School District (Devine) – $400. The grant is being used to purchase cell boosters to extend the Wi-Fi coverage for improved communication for emergency alerts and situations.
El Progresso Memorial Library (Uvalde) – $400. The grant is being used to purchase a replacement large format printer and five rolls of paper for the library’s business services program. The printer can print poster-size signs, artwork and blueprints for local businesses.
Hondo Public Library (Hondo) – $500. The grant is being used to purchase an OrCam Read Smart device to assist people with disabilities. The device helps people with learning disabilities and visual impairments by translating text into audio for the reader.
Medina Senior Center Inc. (Hondo) – $400. The grant is being used to help fund phase one of building the new Medina Senior Center/Meals on Wheels facility.
Real County Public Library (Leakey) – $500. The grant is being used to help fund the library’s summer reading program.
Restore Reproductive Health (Hondo) – $500. The grant is being used to fund the rewiring and electrical elements in the western portion of the organization’s building.
Rocksprings Edwards County VFD (Rocksprings) – $1,000. The grant is being used to upgrade apparatus equipment from cribbing, transfer pumps, new hoses and to repair other equipment for the VFD.
Saint Louis Catholic School (Castroville) – $400. The grant is being used to purchase and install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at the school.
“Beyond providing safe, reliable electricity, it is important that we help make a difference in our service area,” MEC CEO Trey Grebe said. “These organizations promote education, economic growth and are often safe places for our community members, young and old.”
Medina EC has provided more than $78,000 in grants to various nonprofits and local governments since the CEP program started in 2015. Additional information on the CEP is available at MedinaEC.org/Grant.