A $1.4 million Community Development Block Grant will help 15 projects in Williamson County. The Housing and Urban Development grant will support community development and affordable housing projects between 2019 and 2023. In a 4-0 Williamson County Commissioners Court vote June 25, the consolidated plan, action plan and the updated citizen participation plan were approved. Fifteen projects were selected based on a citizen-driven need identification process and stakeholder meetings, and projects will receive funding in October for the 2019-20 fiscal year. Projects aim to increase affordable housing, aid the homeless population, provide public services and promote fair housing, according to the program guidelines and priorities approved on April 23. The 15 projects include: Bluebonnet Trails Community MHMR Center/Social Service Taylor Dickey Museum and Multipurpose Center City of Georgetown Home Repair Program Georgetown Housing Authority Rehab Granger Housing Authority Rehab Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County/Land Acquisition Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County/Homeowner Rehab Williamson County Crisis Center dba Hope Alliance/Social Service Williamson County Crisis Center dba Hope Alliance/Shelter Rehab Interagency Support Council of Eastern Williamson County, Inc./Social Service City of Leander Senior Activity Center Lone Star Circle of Care Project Headwaters Williamson County EMS Mobile Outreach and Community Health Paramedicine/Social Service The Key2Free/Social Service Program Administration Sally Bardwell, the county’s community development administrator, said the projects are only for the upcoming year, and future projects are not yet planned. Bardwell said no comments were given on the projects to date. Alternative projects can be completed if a grant surplus occurs. These include sidewalk projects in Liberty Hill and Georgetown, Victoria Street reconstruction and water improvements in Taylor and housing for survivors of human trafficking. A change to the Citizen Participation Plan was also approved at the June 25 meeting. Instead of waiting 30 days to approve funds during a federally declared disaster, a seven-day comment period and at least one public hearing would be held. Aid would be amended from the existing consolidated plan. “That allows us to assist in an emergency and not have to wait 30 days when the emergency may already be over,” Bardwell said.