$1.6M Awarded To Maryland Businesses To Make PPE: Coronavirus

MARYLAND — More than $1.6 million has been awarded by the state to 20 Maryland companies for expanding production of personal protective equipment or switching production to begin making the protective gear needed for health-care workers who treat coronavirus patients.

Through the Maryland COVID-19 Emergency Relief Manufacturing Fund administered by the Maryland Department of Commerce, this group of companies is receiving a first round of grants worth up to $100,000 to manufacture everything from face shields, gowns, and N-95 masks to respirator parts and battery packs for ventilators.

“Ramping up our supply of PPE is a critical building block in our state’s recovery plan, and we are taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to secure these resources for our front line workers,” said Gov. Larry Hogan in a statement. “I want to thank and commend the local businesses who have shifted their operations and increased production to help us save lives and flatten the curve.”

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The $5 million program was created in response to a growing demand for items to protect health-care and front-line workers, including face shields, surgical masks, gowns and gloves, as well as items for hospitals like thermometers, respirators and ventilators. The program received more than 200 applications and more grants will be made in the coming weeks.

Jonathan Sevel, CEO of CoastTec, said he wanted to use his company's resources to help out after he learned of a shortage of ventilators.

“I knew that our company is adaptable enough to focus engineering and manufacturing toward a cost-effective viable strategy to get non-working ventilators back into circulation. We estimate that we will be able to manufacture 200 to 300 ventilator battery packs per day, hopefully easing some of the strain on the system," he said.

Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz said participating businesses "responded in a big way."

“Many of these companies have had to rapidly ramp up production of these items, while others pivoted completely from their normal operations and came up with a creative way they could help, with some adding new jobs in the process," said Schulz.

Ken Malone, chairman of DiPole Materials, said the quick response by the state to provide companies with assistance allowed the company to invest in its filter production equipment and add a dozen employees to operate it.

“Importantly, our expansion will also allow us to rapidly grow our business post-crisis when we pivot back to being a custom manufacturer of high performance materials," said Malone.

The following Maryland companies are receiving grant funding:

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