Announcements

Williamson County Grant Program Assists local businesses

Wilco Forward, Williamson County’s grant program to provide financial relief to local business owners impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, has issued 198 checks as of today. That accounts for $2.8 million of the $25 million allocated by the Commissioners Court for the program.

A COVID-19 mobile test collection site will be in Taylor, Texas, on Saturday, May 9. The mobile test collection site was made possible thanks to the collaboration of local and state partners, and the Texas National Guard. Williamson County residents experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can call 512-883-2400 or visit www.txcovidtest.org to be screened and make an appointment.  The mobile testing location is at the Taylor Regional Park, located at 210 Carlos G. Parker Blvd., Taylor.  People will need an appointment and cannot arrive without an appointment to be tested. 
 

On May 6, Williamson County officially launched its Wilco Forward program, which aims to provide grants for local business owners that have been impacted financially by the COVID-19 pandemic. More than $18.5 million has been given out to small businesses as of May 21. Wilco Forward was developed by a strike team that includes County Treasurer Scott Heselmeyer, Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey, and Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles. The program began accepting applications on May 6 and has mailed more than 1,600 checks as of May 28. Applications will be submitted online through the county’s website at www.wilco.org/forward to the Williamson County Auditor’s Office.

Williamson County has expanded its COVID-19 testing capabilities adding additional sites through a partnership with Family Emergency Room. The Williamson County Commissioners Court agreed to provide an expanded number of tests and personal protection equipment (PPE) to Family Emergency Room which will be administering the testing services at no cost to the county or the public. To be tested, residents of Williamson County register online on the county’s website. The COVID-19 test is for both people who are experiencing symptoms and those who are not. It is not an antibody test and is available only for Williamson County residents. In addition, the Williamson County and Cities Health District offers one free testing site for people with COVID-19 symptoms. To access their site, click here. 

While Williamson County businesses prepare to reopen under Phase I of Governor Greg Abbott’s new Open Texas orders, county offices will continue to operate at a limited capacity through the month of May. As a preventative measure to reduce the spread of COVID-19, county offices and departments will continue to provide services in a way that limits in-person interactions including scheduling appointments, working remotely, and conducting business via telephone, email, mail, using technology, and drop box services, until June 1, 2020.