In June, Medina Electric Cooperative awarded $5,500 in grants to area organizations through the Community Empowerment Program to encourage 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.

These organizations will receive grants to further their community impact:

• 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. 
• 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.
• El Sacrificio (Pearsall) - $500
  The grant is being used to purchase a security light for the organization’s facility. 
• 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,” said Trey Grebe, Medina EC CEO. “These organizations promote education, economic growth and are often safe places for our community members, young and old.”

Medina EC is proud to include these organizations in the more than $78,000 in grants awarded to various nonprofits and local governments since the CEP program started in 2015. 

For more information, visit MedinaEC.org/Grant.