The Lake Brownwood Community Development Council (LBCDC) is an organization
that was created in 2002 after a meeting in 2001 when the Early Chamber of Commerce sponsored a meeting at eh 4H Center where about 40 interested citizens, businessmen and organization leaders met to discuss the needs of the Lake Brownwood area.  Their focus was how to make Lake Brownwood a more appealing place to live as well as a more attractive tourist destination.

The LBCDC’s goal is to make Lake Brownwood a vacation destination and to create a nicer place to live and encourage seniors to retire around the Lake.  The organization was formed to provide, maintain and support an association for the purpose of advancing the community of Lake Brownwood. Their official mission is to advance the community and economic development of the Lake Brownwood community and its trade territory, by promoting the general trade and commercial interest, tourism, commercial and business developments, and improve the standards of living and income of the people in the area.

When the organization was set up the Early Chamber was the original sponsor of LBCDC with Wanda Furgason was appointed as the liaison between the Chamber and the LBCDC board members.  She has served with the organization since mostly as the secretary but eventually moving into the president position on the board.  Wanda has been the member that has held the organization together and kept it going.

The organization is currently having a member drive. If you are interested in joining the organization you do not have to live or work at the lake but have interest in bettering our Lake Brownwood area.  You can email them at [email protected] with questions and interest.

The organization board members meet monthly. Then host quarterly meetings with a guest speaker with important information regarding the Lake area. The next quarterly meeting will be with Pit Master’s Junior Urias with a date to be determined and announced.

Many of the activities of the LBCDC have come from planning sessions where they have invited citizens and businesses to discuss the needs.   Some of the activities they have been a part of is an appreciation dinner for First Responders, National Night Out, sponsoring 4th of July Fireworks, highway cleanups and a recycling trailer in the Lake Brownwood area.

One of their most recent activities was their 6th  annual Kid Fishing Tournament on Saturday, June 12th. This was their best turn out for the event so far with a total of 104 children come out and participate in the event at Flat Rock Park.  This event allows families to spend time together outside enjoying fishing, many of them for the first time! The excitement from the children when they catch their first fish of the day or the first fish of their life.  It is fun to watch the parents that refuse to touch the fish and let their children carry their own fish.

Winners: Pictures included
4 years old and under
1st-Jett 2lb ¾ oz
2nd-Mia 1lb 4oz
3rd-Abigail 11¼ oz

5-8 year olds
1st-James 1lb 7 2/3 oz
2nd-Aliya 1lb 3 ¼ oz
3rd-Logan 1 lb

9-12 year olds
1st-Kynzi 2 lb 11 oz
2nd-Josiah 1 lb 13 2/3 oz
3rd-Adeline 1 lb 11 7/8 oz

This event depends on donations in order to be successful.  Bishop Distributors and Zebco provided a fishing rod and reel to each registered participant with tackle and the prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each age bracket.  Weakley Watson donated the bait for the participants and also a gift card to each of the winners.  The Pecan Valley Kiwanis Club came out and provided and cooked hotdogs for everyone at the event (not just the participants), while the Early Key Club members helped prepare the rod and reels and then served the lunch.  Kiwanis Club of Brownwood provided gift cards for McDonald’s to each winner.  Kanar RV Sales and Pecan Valley Kiwanis’ both provided water to keep everyone hydrated.  BSA Troop 22 had scouts come out to work the weigh in station. The Lake Brownwood State Park had 4 volunteers that came out and volunteered their morning where ever we needed them and Lake Patrol came out with the fire boat and sprayed water while the sirens were going for the children.

Prior to the event parents are able to preregister their children and they appreciate the locations that are willing to accept registration forms and fees if parents choose not to register online. This year those businesses were Visit Early, Texas, Brown County Museum of History, Weakley Watson Hardware and Innovation Wellness Health Spa.

It is amazing how our community comes together to have events affordable when it is in the best interest in families and children.