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.

The Williamson County Commissioners Court will begin to hold in-person meetings starting Tuesday, June 2, at the Williamson County Historic Courthouse, 710 S. Main Street, Georgetown. The move comes after months of holding virtual meetings online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the Historic Courthouse will remain closed to the public until further notice, residents will be allowed to access the building when a Commissioners Court meeting is being held. Access is available through the south doors off 8th Street. On the days that Commissioners Court meetings are held, the Courthouse will be open one hour prior to the posted start time of the meeting to one hour after the posted start time. Typically, this will be from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Entry to the courthouse will be subject to a temperature check. Residents interested in taking part should be advised that there will be limited seating for the public in the courtroom with overflow seating available in the District Courtroom. The meeting will be streamed live online at https://www.wilco.org/livemeetings.　

On Tuesday, May 19, the Williamson County Commissioners Court terminated the County’s local disaster declaration which went into effect March 14, 2020.  “It is time for Williamson County to stand again and to grow in a way that leads our nation,” said County Judge Bill Gravell. The Commissioners Court also approved the plan for ramping up in-person access to Williamson County offices beginning June 1. For specifics on county offices and their hours and procedures, 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.  

Starting May 1, Williamson County businesses began following Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s executive orders issued April 27, 2020, to reopen businesses safely and strategically in phases while minimizing the spread of COVID-19. His detailed plan is outlined in Texans Helping Texans: The Governor's Report to Open Texas. For a copy of the report, click here. On May 5, Governor Abbott issued a new executive order to expand the openings of certain businesses and activities. Starting May 18, personal service businesses, child care services, exercise facilities, non-essential manufacturing, and other offices can open under specific conditions. On Friday, May 22, more businesses began operating including bowling alleys, bars, breweries, wine tasting rooms, aquariums, and natural caverns, to name a few. On May 26, Governor Abbott announced additional services that can open under Phase II such as water parks, recreational sports programs for adults, driver education programs, and food court dining areas within shopping malls. To read what can open Friday, May 29, click here.