$175M Aid Package Would Help Workers, Businesses: MD Coronavirus

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A $175 million relief package to assist workers, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations affected by the ordered closure of all non-essential businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic has been proposed by Gov. Larry Hogan. He has repeatedly urged Marylanders to help their neighbors by staying home in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“We are telling all Marylanders to follow all of the directives and to follow the state law against crowds of more than ten people,” Hogan said Monday. “And we are telling you, unless you have an essential reason to leave your house, stay in your home. Today’s actions of closing non-essential businesses are absolutely necessary to protect the health of Marylanders and to save lives.”

“To my fellow Marylanders, let me say that I know how difficult this is on each and every one of you,” he added in a new release. “There is a great deal of fear and anxiety, and the truth is, none of us really know how bad this is going to get or how long it’s going to last. But I can promise you that there are a great many dedicated people doing tremendous things, working around the clock, and doing their very best to help keep Marylanders safe.”

For updates on the coronavirus in Maryland, get Patch news alerts.

Below is the aid package Hogan outlined Monday:

• ECONOMIC RELIEF PACKAGE: Governor Hogan announced more than $175 million to assist small businesses and workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. More information and resources about these programs is available at businessexpress.maryland.gov/coronavirus.
  • The Maryland Department of Commerce will offer up to $125 million in loans and grants to small businesses and nonprofits through the Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. A $75 million loan fund and a $50 million grant fund, with $1 million in grants dedicated to non-profits, will provide working capital to be used for payroll, rent, fixed-debt payments and other mission critical cash operating costs. Businesses and nonprofits with under 50 full- and part-time employees will be eligible, and loans will range up to $50,000 and grants up to $10,000. Additional eligibility requirements can be found here.
  • Maryland Commerce is also working on creating a $5 million fund to incentivize businesses to manufacture personal protective equipment and other supplies to satisfy the increasing needs of the healthcare industry.
  • The Department also has a number of existing financing programs, like Advantage Maryland, which provides conditional loans for new businesses or business expansions; the Maryland Industrial Development Financing Authority and Fund, which provides loan guarantees; the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority, which provides financial assistance to economically disadvantaged businesses; and the Non-Profit Interest-Free Micro-Bridge Loan Program, which provides loans to nonprofits to support ongoing operating costs while waiting on a future government grant or contract. A total of about $40 million is available through these existing programs.
  • Hogan has allocated $5 million and the Maryland Department of Labor has allocated $2 million to collaboratively launch the COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund. A total of $7 million in funds will be available to provide flexible rapid response services to proactively support businesses and workers undergoing economic stresses due to COVID-19. Funding can help Maryland’s workforce adhere to social distancing policies by purchasing remote access equipment and software to allow employees to work from home, providing on-site cleaning and sanitation services at businesses that have workers delivering essential services, and implementing other creative strategies to mitigate potential layoffs or closures in the business community.

You can read the full text of Hogan's emergency order to close all non-essential businesses across the state.

• In addition to what is already closed by prior orders, this order requires the closure of anything that is not included in the new federal guidelines for critical infrastructure sectors. Interpretive Guidance from the Office of Legal Counsel. [UPDATE: Additional Guidance as of March 23 at 7 p.m.]

Related:

• Coronavirus In Maryland: 4 Deaths Confirmed, 349 Cases Total
• Maryland Stores Launch Special Shopping Hours For Seniors
• Inmate Releases Due To Coronavirus Considered By State Attorneys
• Coronavirus Closes MD Taxpayer Services Call Center