2022 Recipients
- Children's Advocacy Center of Laredo
$500 to purchase a state-of-the-art big-size tactile sensory panel for the center's waiting room. These walls help children develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. - Knights of Columbus 2810
$500 to create a museum inside the Scotus College building to highlight the history of the first Franciscan Friars and seminarians that came to Hebbronville from Mexico in 1926. - Medina Co. Hospital
$1,000 to purchase a Stand Assist Lift for rehabilitation patients. The Arjo Sara Plus powered standing and raising aid is designed to help mobilize patients during everyday activities. - Mico VFD
$750 to purchase 10 Guardian Angel safety lights and seven Fire Ninja safety vests to help work traffic and improve visibility at traffic accidents. - Pleasanton Fire Department
$500 to purchase fire prevention supplies for the department to use during fire safety presentations and raise the level of awareness in fire safety. - South Texas Advancement Resources
$1,500 to purchase tools and supplies needed by the Laredo College vocational program students. - Webb Co. VFD
$750 to purchase four new self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) face pieces.
2021 Recipients
- Alexander Memorial Library, Cotulla
$500 to purchase new computer tables and bookcases. - Camp Wood Public Library, Camp Wood
$800 to help the library fund interior security cameras to help monitor activities in the library and safeguard the library’s assets. - Charlotte Public Library, Charlotte
$1,000 to purchase DEAR Little Free Libraries to provide free reading material and promote reading to all ages. - Devine Food Pantry, Devine
$500 to purchase security cameras inside and outside the food pantry to protect the goods within. - Literacy Volunteers of Laredo, Laredo
$1,200 for an innovative printer and its accessories to print resources for future courses. - Nuevos Horizontes de Starr County, Rio Grande City
$500 to create an outdoor classroom and recreation area for students. - South Texas Empowerment of Women, Rio Grande City
$500 will be used to help purchase, install and maintain outdoor lighting for the facility. - Texas Ramp Project, Medina County
$500 to purchase lumber and materials for two average-length wheelchair ramps in Medina EC’s service area.
The Community Empowerment Program (CEP) provides grants for capital improvement projects that support community and economic development within the 17 counties we serve.
Grants are awarded to local governments and non-profit groups such as civic organizations, schools, volunteer fire departments, libraries, emergency medical services, museums and historical associations.
The goals of the CEP are:
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Encourage economic diversity
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Contribute to the health and development of a community to improve the attractiveness of the community to public and private enterprises
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Improve the quality and/or quantity of services essential for the development of viable communities and economic growth, including services related to education, community planning, recreation, health care, public safety, employment, training or transportation
The program began in 2015 and is funded by unclaimed capital credits. It must be approved by the board annually. When credits remain unclaimed for three years they are given to the State of Texas. The state can give a portion of that money back to the cooperative to be used for economic development activities, scholarships and energy efficiency programs.
For 2023, the board has approved up to $5,500 to be given in grants, with a max of $2,000 for any one organization.
Eligible Organizations:
- Local governments
- Civic organizations
- Volunteer fire departments
- Emergency medical services
- Schools
- Libraries
- Museums/Historical associations
- Other non-profits
Eligible Projects:
- The organization and project must operate within one or more of the 17 counties served by Medina EC.
- Projects must be for capital improvements, which includes vehicles.
- Organization must be the property owner where the project is located.
- The project must be maintained for the public purpose of which the grant was awarded.
- The application must be signed by the chief executive officer or administrator of the organization requesting the grant, such as a city manager, executive director, general manager, board president or school superintendent.
Ineligible Organizations:
- For-profit organizations
- Individuals
- Professional associations
- Non-profit organizations limited to group membership
Ineligible Projects or Expenses:
- Completed projects
- Program operating costs
- Seminars and conference fees
- Appliances
- Office equipment
- Members-only facilities
- Land acquisition projects
- Debt-reduction campaigns
- Computer equipment or software
- One-time events
- Most functions carried out by a taxing entity
2023 Applications are due on April 3*.
* Technical support will not be available outside of normal business hours. Encountering technical issues turning in the application on the last day will not be grounds for an extension.
Organizations that are awarded CEP grant monies must adhere to the following:
- The project must be completed within 12 months of the date the grant is awarded. Upon completion of the project, the grant recipient must submit a final report with a photograph of the completed project.
- For grants above $1,999, the grant recipient must post signage that clearly, permanently and publicly acknowledges the sponsorship of Medina EC at the site of the project.
- Grant recipients must allow Medina EC to take and publicly post pictures of the grant being awarded.
Failure to complete the project on schedule or abide by the terms of the agreement may result in Medina EC requiring the recipient to return the grant.
Be prepared to provide the following information on your application:
Organization Information
- The year the organization was founded
- The goal or purpose of the organization
- Whether or not the organization is a 501(c) and if so which type
- A list of the elected body or board of directors for the organization
- A copy of the organization's State of Texas or IRS determination letter, if applicable
- A copy of the most recent IRS Form 990, if applicable
Project Information
- An overview of the project and how the Medina EC grant will be used
- When the project is anticipated to start and be completed
- How the project will impact the community
- The project's economic impact on the community
- Who will maintain the project, both during and completion
- Whether or not the requested funds will enable completion for the project or if additional funding is needed (and how that funding will be obtained)
- Any photos, if applicable
A detailed budget summary with itemized costs and funding sources is required. Be sure to include:
- A breakdown of project costs (include vendor quotes or estimates)
- A financial statement (a copy of balance sheet or current bank statement)
- *Applicant's contribution or matching funds
- *Federal, state or municipal funding
- *Local Funding
- *In-kind contributions - Goods or services offered free or at less than the usual charge result in an in-kind contribution.
- *Other funding
*Indicate whether funds are projected, requested, already committed or raised. Include documentation
Budget Summary Sample
Budget summary must be broken out in the format below.
CEP funds column = amount you are requesting that the CEP Grant funds from Medina EC will cover.
Organization Funds column = amount your organization will contribute. This includes in-kind contributions and documentation is required.
| EXPENSES | CEP FUNDS | ORGANIZATION FUNDS | TOTAL |
| A/C UNIT | $800 | $1,700 | $2,500 |
| Electric Wiring | $200 | $2,500 | $2,700 |
| Steel for Slab | $1,000 | - | $1,000 |
| Metal Building | - | $9,000 | $9,000 |
| In-kind Contributions | |||
| Brush County Concrete | $4,000 | $4,000 | |
| CEP Grant | $2,000 | ||
| Matching/In-Kind Share | $17,200 | ||
| Total Project Cost | $19,200 |
Staff can review draft applications and provide feedback if submitted at least three weeks before the deadline.
Applications that meet the minimum requirements are reviewed by the CEP committee. The committee determines grant awards and amounts. Grants may be awarded for less than the amount requested, depending on the number of applications received. Grant decisions will be announced in June.
Decisions regarding grants are within the sole discretion of the CEP committee and may not be appealed. Communicating with members of the CEP committee about a pending grant application is not allowed.
An entity receiving a grant must wait 24 months following the official close out of the previous grant before it is eligible to submit another project.
If you have any questions please send an email to MyCoop@MedinaEC.org or call 1-866-MEC-ELEC (632-3532).