Williamson County’s small business grant program, Wilco Forward, has issued more than $31.6 million to area businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic, County Treasurer Scott Heselmeyer said June 23.

The county allocated $35 million to the program to help businesses get on their feet after being forced to close to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

“The Williamson County approach has been to utilize the CARES Act funds received from the federal government to make an immediate and positive impact in the community," Heselmeyer said in a news release. "This approach is now being used as an example for other local governments around the nation on how to use these funds properly and efficiently.”

The county launched the program in May allowing businesses with less than 100 full-time employees to apply for grant funding, among other qualifications. As of June 22, the County Auditor’s Office had approved 3,297 applications, the release said. The average grant is $9,603, it said.

Business owners have until June 30 to submit their application at www.wilco.org/forward.