United Way of Williamson County announced the 21 area agencies to receive Community Investment Grants in a July 11 news release.

The selected agencies were chosen from 37 applications requesting more than $1.1 million in funding, according to the release. A total of $460,000 in grants will be distributed.

"This is one of the larger grant requests we've had in a long time," said UWWC Development DIrector Laurie Garza. "More agencies applied this year and they requested more dollars."

Over the course of a 6-month review process community volunteers selected agencies to receive grants based on the how each agency's process aligned with the UWWC's community impact goals in the areas of education, income, health and basic needs, according to the news release. The UWWC board of directors approved final selections and allocation amounts in May.

The Literacy Council of Williamson County, which provides resources to help residents achieve or improve literacy, as well as English as a Second Language, or ESL, and GED preparation classes, was one of the nonprofits awarded funds.

LCWC Executive Director Robert Pinhero said the council would use the $30,000 grant for instructor salaries and retraining costs as the GED test undergoes the "biggest change in its 72-year history."

The new test is expected to measure a core of knowledge and skills for career and college readiness, according to the GED Testing Service website.

"It will create a huge spike in expenses," Pinhero said. "Costs are going to change dramatically. We're going to have to retrain volunteers and instructors It's going to be an enormous change starting January of 2014."

Residents who earn GED diplomas spend more money within their community, Pinhero said, which helped the Literacy Council receive the grant as it meets the United Way's impact goal of increasing income, assets and job training for improved employability in the county.

According to the release, "this year's grant recipients will play a key role in making sure that Williamson County residents have access to those opportunities that will improve their life and the lives of their family for generations."

Other grant recipients include:

  • Annunciation Maternity Home
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas
  • Community in Schools of Greater Central Texas
  • Interagency Support Council of East Williamson County Inc.
  • LifeSteps/Neighborhood Conference Committee
  • Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation/ASPIRE
  • Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation/STARS Mentoring Program
  • Capital IDEA
  • Literacy Council of Williamson County
  • AGE of Central Texas
  • Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Central Texas
  • Faith in Action Caregivers
  • Hope Alliance
  • The Samaritan Center for Counseling and Pastoral Care
  • Samaritan Health Ministries
  • Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center
  • Williamson-Burnet County Opportunities
  • Hill Country Community Ministries
  • Round Rock Area Serving Center
  • Shepherd's Heart
  • The Caring Place