COVID-19 School Closure and Economic Relief Updates

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We are living through an extraordinary public health event with the spread of COVID-19. It is a scary time for many, but we must remember that together we can and will get through this moment.

There are many families, businesses, cultural centers, and institutions that are struggling through the drastic impacts of these necessary preventative physical distancing measures. The State of Maryland is leading the way to provide support where possible.

Below, you will find aggregated information about the impact of COVID-19 on Maryland families and resources to help community members find relief.

Remember, stay home, stay safe, stay aware, and stay calm. We will continue to find light in the darkness, and our work together through this crisis will build a stronger foundation for our future on the other side.

Baltimore City Schools Update

In case you didn’t see the announcement by Dr. Salmon and Governor Hogan yesterday, the Maryland State Department of Education has decided to extend school closures through at least April 24th.

I know that this creates challenging situations as students transition to distance learning, for parents who are still essential employees and require childcare services, and for families who rely on school meals each day for nutrition. Despite childcare centers closing to the public, they are still operational for children of essential employees.

Please help share the information below via social media and through your networks to connect Marylanders with available resources.

Baltimore City Distance Learning

Baltimore City Public Schools is hard at work to ensure students still have access to enriching educational experiences during this elongated period of school closures. While they work on hopefully transitioning to online learning in the coming weeks, learning packets have been developed by grade level and subject area. You can access those learning packets to download, or print at https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/learning-packets .

Childcare for Essential Personnel

Although schools may be closed, essential businesses are still up and running. It is vital that parents who are essential personnel receive support and care for their children when they go to work. Families looking for childcare can find options by calling 1-877-261-0060, or visiting bit.ly/MDChildCare .

Meal Distribution Sites for Children

Schools are not just a place of learning, but also where many of Maryland’s children receive food and nutrition each day. The State and City have worked tirelessly since the beginning of this public health emergency to build out a network of food distribution sites so access to meals is uninterrupted. To find the closest meal distribution site to your home, please visit MDSummerMeals.org to search by address, or baltimorecityschools.org/meal-sites to search by area of the City.

Economic Relief Resources

Maryland Unemployment Insurance

If you, or someone you know has lost their job as businesses have been forced to temporarily close, Maryland’s unemployment insurance program is here to help pay the bills and keep families on their feet. Thanks to legislation passed in the Maryland Senate, beginning March 20th, Maryland has temporarily waived the work search requirement for individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits. Additionally, Maryland does not require a lapse between unemployment and eligibility for benefits. You can file for unemployment insurance at bit.ly/MDUnemploymentInsurance .

Small Business Emergency Relief Programs

The Maryland Department of Commerce has rolled out three distinct programs for small businesses and nonprofits facing hardship during this unprecedented time totaling $130 million, thanks to budgetary actions taken in the recently completed legislative session. These funds can be used to pay cash operating expenses including payroll, suppliers, rent, fixed debt payments and other mission critical cash operating costs. Additional information on these programs is below and they can be accessed at bit.ly/MDSmallBusiness .

Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Loan Fund: This loan fund is only available to for-profit businesses. It offers loans up to $50,000 (not to exceed three months of cash operating expenses) with no interest or principal payments due for the first 12 months. After 12 months, the loans convert to a 36-month term loan of principal and interest payments, with an interest rate at 2% per annum. Businesses must have 50 employees or fewer and demonstrate financial stress or disrupted operations.
Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Fund: This grant program is only available to businesses and nonprofits with 50 or fewer employees. It offers grants up to $10,000, not to exceed 3 months of demonstrated cash operating expenses for the first quarter of 2020.
Maryland COVID-19 Emergency Relief Manufacturing Fund: This incentive program helps Maryland manufacturers to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) which is urgently needed by hospitals and health-care workers across the country. More details are expected to be announced by Friday, March 27, 2020.

COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund

In an effort to help businesses keep employees on the payroll as social distancing and teleworking is implemented, the Department of Labor has created a COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund of up to $50,000 per applicant. That funding can be used to cover the costs of purchasing remote access equipment and software, sanitization services to enable small businesses to keep employees at work on site, liability insurance for restaurants that convert to delivery, and more. You can learn more and apply at bit.ly/MDLayoffAversion .

Small Business Administration Disaster Loans

The federal government is beginning to announce programs to further support workers and small businesses and legislation works its way through Congress. The Small Business Administration (SBA) currently has two disaster loan programs available to all small business owners. Information on the programs is below and they can be accessed at bit.ly/SBAPrograms .

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program: This program provides targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and nonprofits that have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
SBA Express Bridge Loans: This program allows small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 with less paperwork. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing and can be a term loan or used to bridge the gap while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan.

I will continue to provide updates as local, state, and federal economic relief programs are announced with all of the information needed to access them. In the meantime, each of us can help do our part by continuing to support the businesses that are still operational. I hope you’ll join and share our Taste of the 46th on Saturday night to order delivery, or takeout from one of the many incredible restaurants in the area.

Despite the hardship, I am confident that we will overcome this moment because of the ingenuity and passion each of us is bringing to the effort to support one another.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office if there is anything we can do to help via email at bill.ferguson@senate.state.md.us , or phone via (410) 841-3600 by leaving a voicemail to be returned promptly.

Best,

State Senator Bill Ferguson