Three other relief programs to launch on April 22

Annapolis, MD - Governor Wes Moore April 12, 2024 announced the launch of the Port of Baltimore Worker Retention Program to help Port of Baltimore businesses retain employees as the Port recovers from the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse. 

The $12.5 million program was established through Governor Moore’s executive order and authorized by the Maryland Protecting Opportunities and Regional Trade (PORT) Act, which the governor signed into law on Tuesday. The program, run by the Maryland Department of Labor, aims to avert layoffs by enabling impacted businesses to retain their workers until the Port fully reopens.

"We must do everything in our power to support the 8,000 Port workers whose jobs have been directly affected by the collapse of the Key Bridge - and the thousands more who have been touched by this crisis," said Gov. Moore. "By moving in partnership with the Maryland General Assembly, the federal government, and our local government partners, we are extending a hand to workers and businesses in need of help. Together, we will continue to ensure that we leave no one behind in our response to the bridge collapse."

“It’s my top priority to help our critical Port of Baltimore businesses, and their workers get through this difficult time,” said Maryland Secretary of Labor Portia Wu. “The Worker Retention Program will keep Port businesses in operation and workers able to earn income and support their families as the U.S. Army Corps and others work to get the shipping channels reopened.”

Entities eligible for up to $200,000 in grant funding include businesses which employ up to 500 workers, unions, trade associations, and organizations that have seen operations hindered by or completely halted due to the Port slowdown. Up to $7,500 can be spent per worker on wages or other support.  Businesses that receive funding under the Port of Baltimore Worker Retention Program must demonstrate an effort to the fullest extent practicable to avoid layoffs and maintain their workforce at the same hours, rates of pay, and benefits that were in effect before the Port's reduced operations. 

Funds may also be used to pay for training to upskill employees while keeping them on the payroll. Other allowable expenses include supportive services for workers including subsidizing child care and transportation costs as well as payroll expenses as part of participation in the Work Sharing Unemployment Insurance Program. 

The Port of Baltimore Worker Retention Program is funded at $12.5 million through a mix of federal and state dollars: $2.5 million comes from the U.S. Department of Labor through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and $10 million is from Maryland’s Rainy Day Fund.

More information on the Port of Baltimore Worker Retention Program, including the application, can be found at: labor.maryland.gov/keybridgeresources/portworkerretention.shtml.

In addition to the Port of Baltimore Worker Retention Program, three additional relief programs that were established by the Governor’s executive order and authorized by the PORT Act will launch on Monday, April 22. Eligibility and application requirements for these programs can now be found online:

- Department of Commerce: Port of Baltimore Emergency Business Assistance Program - provides grants of up to $100,000 to eligible businesses which have had operations impacted or shipments disrupted at the Port of Baltimore. To be eligible, businesses must demonstrate economic and financial injury through a reduction in business revenue and activity, and/or increased costs to business operations. This program will begin accepting applications on April 22 and information about the program eligibility and requirements can be found here.

- Department of Housing and Community Development: Small Business Grants Program and Business Loan Program - Under the Neighborhood BusinessWorks program administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, a total of $15 million in loans and grants are available to businesses that have been impacted by a loss of revenue or increased costs. The Small Business Grants Program will have $5 million to offer grants up to $50,000 to small/main street level businesses within a five mile radius of the Key Bridge and the Business Loan Program will have $10 million to offer loans up to $500,000 to businesses impacted by the Key Bridge collapse or reduction in Port activity statewide. This program will begin accepting applications on April 22 and information about the program eligibility and requirements can be found here.

More information on additional relief programs offered by the U.S. Government, local governments, and financial institutions can be found here.