End of Road for Temporary Worker and Business Assistance Programs in Maryland: A Success Story of Bipartisan Cooperation and Job Protection

Governor Wes Moore’s office reported that the state officials have begun winding down temporary worker and business assistance programs implemented following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. These programs, which were established as part of the PORT Act, passed shortly after the bridge collapse on March 26, when the container ship Dali crashed into the Key Bridge, causing the center span to collapse into the Patapsco River.

The Labor Department’s worker-retention program for businesses stopped accepting applications in mid-May. The Maryland Department of Labor’s worker support program, the Maryland Department of Commerce’s business assistance program, and the Department of Housing and Community Development’s small-business grant program will close their applications on June 28. Additionally, the Housing and Community Development’s small-business loan program will cease accepting applications on Aug. 15.

These programs provided $37.4 million in assistance, with $22 million supporting businesses in the Baltimore metropolitan region. They benefited 2,800 workers directly and protected over 3,000 jobs from layoffs. Governor Moore credited their success to bipartisan cooperation, stating that they were able to provide financial relief quickly and prevent mass layoffs and financial hardship for many workers and businesses. With the removal of the last of the bridge debris from the Patapsco River, shipping lanes to and from the port have fully reopened. The focus now shifts to replacing