WilCo Allocates More CARES Act Funds

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — The Williamson County Commissioners Court approved allocating more of the county’s federal CARES Act funds from the $93 million it received for the Wilco Forward program, officials said Wednesday.

The program provides financial assistance due to COVID-19 to various entities in our community, including businesses, cities, emergency service districts, school districts and residents.

From the original $93 million that was awarded to Williamson County by the federal government for COVID-19 relief, more than $62.5 million has been used to fund different phases of the WilCo Forward Program. For details on those phases, please click here.

The Williamson County Commissioners Court approved the distribution of the following funds to be used out of the nearly $30 million that was unallocated.

• $365,000 will be used to pay for COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccine related programs.
• $200,000 will go towards assisting the local Emergency Services Districts.
• Approved an increase in the rent and utility assistance program to a total budget of $8 million.

The commissioners court also extended the Wilco Forward Phase III assistance program from a total of three months to six months. The Round Rock Area Serving Center, The Caring Place, The Salvation Army and Hill Country Community Ministries all serve as conduits for the rent and utility assistance. The criteria each entity is following to assess eligibility and the service areas each entity is covering can be found here. Residents living in the city limits of Austin should contact the City of Austin for assistance at austintexas.gov.

The federal government extended the deadline to use CARES Act funds until Dec. 31.