The Williamson County Commissioners Court approved an additional $10 million of CARES Act funds, federally issued money for the COVID-19 response, to be allocated to the Wilco Forward Small Business Grant Program. The additional funds are needed to continue providing financial assistance to Williamson County small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Click here to apply before June 30, 2020.    

Wilco Forward was originally launched May 6, 2020, with the help of a strike force team and $25 million in CARES Act money. Since its inception, there has been an overwhelming response from community business owners who needed financial support to get back on their feet. In less than a month, the Williamson County Auditor’s office, responsible for reviewing the applications for the grant program, has approved 2,328 applications of the 3,280 that have been submitted up until Tuesday, June 2. Of the $25 million designated to fund the program, nearly $24 million in grants have been approved for business owners.  
 
“We have had a significant response from the small business community applying for the Wilco Forward Small Business Grant program. Helping our small businesses and the employees of those businesses during this very trying time has been the County’s priority. I want to encourage other Wilco small businesses to apply if they haven’t through the month of June,” said Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey. 
 
With a little over one million left to issue, and still many more applications to review, Williamson County Treasurer Scott Heselmeyer requested approval of an additional $10 million to be able to fund Wilco Forward until the application deadline closes June 30, 2020.  
 
There are 754 applications out of 3,280 that are still pending review. Heselmeyer estimates the County will receive approximately 3,400 total applications before the application deadline on June 30.  
The average grant is $10,266.22 for each qualifying business, although that amount can vary per applicant. For details on eligibility and more information on Wilco Forward visit https://www.wilco.org/forward.