Gov. Larry Hogan has announced a new $250 million relief package to provide assistance to Maryland businesses that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.
On Oct. 26, the MACPA team met with Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz, who assembled a group representing Maryland’s Labor and Housing agencies to provide us with details about how to get these funds into the hands of Maryland businesses as soon as possible. Details about the relief package are available in the MACPA blog and in their Maryland Relief Guide, as a pdf.
Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 28, small businesses can apply for up to $50,000 through Maryland’s Layoff Aversion Fund, which received an additional $20 million in funding through the relief package. The money is meant to help small businesses maintain their workforces in the wake of the pandemic. Get complete details and download an application via the MACPA website here.
These funds are on a first-in-first-out basis and are expected to run out quickly. Check for applicability to your clients or businesses and advise clients to check the links daily for updates, and to apply as soon as possible.
MACPA still pressing for federal relief
Another round of federal stimulus aid seems increasingly unlikely to be enacted before Election Day. Even so, the MACPA continues to push to enact six key provisions in the next round of relief — whatever that relief might look like. They are:
- Relief for 501c(6) organizations in the next iteration of the Paycheck Protection Program and other relief packages.
- Limited liability relief from pandemic claims for employers and businesses.
- Support for state government relief, including the economic relief package outlined above.
- Support for Senate Bill 4117, which would promote auto-forgiveness for PPP loans of less than $150,000.
- Tax deductibility of expenses that qualify for relief under the CARES Act.
- Support for the Remote and Mobile Worker Relief Act.
Updates will continue to be available on the MACPA COVID-19 resource page.