In Williamson County, 105 businesses have received an average of $6,559 each through Phase 2 of the County’s Wilco Forward Small Business Grant program financed with CARES Act funds. The program offers financial assistance to food services such as restaurants, food trucks and caterers, bars, and hotels/motels that were financially impacted due to closures and occupancy restrictions due to COVID-19. In order to increase eligibility in the program, today the Commissioners Court approved lowering the financial qualifications so that more businesses will be eligible. In Wilco Forward Phase 2, a business can receive up to $500 per employee with a maximum amount of $10,000 if eligible. 

Under the revision, a business’s average monthly gross revenue for 2020 must be at least 10 percent lower than the 2019 average monthly gross revenue. This is down from the original requirement of the 2020 average monthly gross revenue being at least 25 percent lower than 2019. 

“We will be reaching out directly to any applicants that were previously denied,” said Williamson County Treasurer Scott Heselmeyer. “Grants totaling $551,500 to 84 businesses have been approved so far. We want to make sure we are reaching all eligible businesses to provide them with the assistance they desperately need due to the pandemic.”

This is the second round of Wilco Forward small business grants funded by CARES Act funds. The Williamson County Commissioners Court approved allocating $10 million to fund Phase 2 of the program during the Commissioners Court meeting held on Tuesday, March 10. 

Businesses will need to provide documentation that they are eligible for the program and have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the Wilco Forward Phase 2 signup page for more information and to apply. The application deadline has been extended to April 30, 2021.