COVID-19 Relief Programs | Worcester County Economic Development

Guidance for the Restaurant Industry – American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) has developed guidelines for restaurants as they prepare to reopen. Get additional resources at AIHA’s Coronavirus Outbreak Resource Center Coronavirus Outbreak Resource Center.

Retail

Recreation, Youth Programs, and Sporting Events Directives - For additional questions, please refer to this FAQ on outdoor youth camps, sports programs, and other youth programs

Youth Sports Best Practices

Latest Amended Directive and Order Regarding Youth Camp Programs from the Maryland Department of Health

Latest Amended Directive and Order Regarding Community, Recreational, Leisure, Cultural, and Sporting Gathering and Events from the Maryland Department of Health

Latest directive and order regarding swimming pools from the Maryland Department of Health

Guidance and best practices for Religious Services.

Resources from the Maryland Department of Health – Signage for Buildings

Workplace Poster! (OSHA3994 - 10 steps) Ten Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus – Attached is a helpful poster from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

New Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Reopening guidance for cleaning and disinfecting public spaces, workplaces, businesses, schools, and homes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also produced useful signs in multiple languages to help you establish and enforce standards for protection. All materials are free for download.

Financial Assistance for Businesses

See below for information on the CARES Act, its Paycheck Protection Program, available loans and other pertinent information for you and your business. We hope these documents help to illuminate the resources available to provide some support.

Wondering which programs your business can apply for? There are several relief programs designed to help combat the negative effects from COVID-19. The Relief Wizard is an easy to use tool to navigate these programs. If you answer the questions, the relief wizard will point you to the programs you are eligible for, based on your answers. https://reliefwizard.net/

Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act

For more information on the CARES Act and how it pertains to you, check out the resources below:

Employee Retention Tax Credit

Small Business Owners Guide to the Cares Act

Emergency Loans: Small Business Guide and Checklist

Employer Paid Leave Obligations: Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Paycheck Protection Program

As part of the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program provides loans to eligible businesses, a portion of which may be forgiven if employers meet certain requirements.

Banks will start accepting loan applications April 3rd. See the documents linked below for more details.

Paycheck Protection Program Overview

Paycheck Protection Program Fact Sheet

If you are considering applying for this loan, we strongly recommend that you reach out to your bank, read the information in the documents provided and start gathering the necessary information.

SBA Economic Injury Loan Program

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will provide low-interest loans to companies affected by the outbreak, with President Trump asking Congress to increase funding for the SBA lending program to $50 billion. The SBA has declared the State of Maryland an Economic Disaster Area for all 24 counties and is providing disaster loan assistance. Maryland businesses should use disaster incident number “MD-00041”.

The U.S. Small Business Administration released the Payroll Protection Program Loan forgiveness form and instructions.

Updated information from the U.S. Small Business Administration and U.S. Treasury on the Payroll Protection Plan as of May 22, 2020:
Interim Final Rule on Loan Forgiveness
Interim Final Rule on Loan Review Procedures and Related Borrower Responsibilities
If you applied but haven’t received funding, you may find this chart helpful.

General Disaster Assistance Information

Apply for an Economic Disaster Loan

The U.S. Chamber

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has launched the Save the Business Grant Fund to provide supplemental grants to small employers.

Save Small Business Grant Fund

NOTE:On April 24, the fourth federal package was signed into law to provide relief to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. $310 billion is set to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program, as well as $50 billion for the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and $10 billion for EIDL grants.

*Applicants, who have not already done so should complete the next step in the process - to create an account with Maryland OneStop. Take a moment to sign up for a OneStop account. They should make sure to use the same email address that was used in their original application. Their application will be linked up to their account and they will be notified. Once in the OneStop, applicants will be able to see the status of their application in their dashboard and receive updates

Maryland COVID-19 Emergency Relief Manufacturing Fund

This $5 million incentive program helps Maryland manufacturers to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) that is urgently needed by hospitals and healthcare workers across the country. More information coming by Friday, March 27, 2020.

The Maryland State Arts Council has created special grant opportunities that provide emergency funding to arts organizations and artists in Maryland. Learn More

Additional links for businesses

Maryland COVID Info for Business: https://govstatus.egov.com/md-coronavirus-business

Maryland Department of Commerce: https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/maryland-small-business-covid-19-emergency-relief-fund-programs

Maryland Workforce Exchange: https://mwejobs.maryland.gov

U.S. Department of Agriculture: https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus | https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/USDA_COVID-19_Fed_Rural_Resource_Guide.pdf

Maryland Department of Agriculture: https://news.maryland.gov/mda/category/covid-19/

MARBIDCO: http://marbidco.org/_pages/programs_loans/loan_programs_palpf_1.htm

American Farm Land Trust Farmer Relief Fund: https://farmland.org/farmer-relief-fund/

Maryland Department of Natural Resources: https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/default.aspx

Existing Maryland Financing Programs: https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund

Maryland Unemployment Office: https://www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/uibenefits.shtml

Federal Guidelines for Critical Infrastructure: https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce

Executive Orders and Interpretive Guidance from The Office of Governor Larry Hogan: https://governor.maryland.gov/covid-19-pandemic-orders-and-guidance/