small businesses

Hogan Announces Second $250 Million Business Relief Plan

October 23, 2020 by Maryland Matters

Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) on Wednesday pulled $250 million from the state’s rainy day fund, intending to keep small businesses open during the COVID-19 pandemic through help with rent, employee salaries, upgrades and other efforts.

During a State House press conference, Hogan said the state’s economic and health recoveries depend on everyday Marylanders continuing to follow safety guidance, while he also pushed some of Maryland’s larger counties to reopen businesses further.

The governor also chided the rate that smaller counties have spent federal stimulus money; only about one-third of $362 million in CARES Act funding directed to 19 counties in the state has been spent so far, with a deadline of Dec. 31.

Hogan said the new state funding would also be required to be spent by the end of the year, and suggested that counties use their unspent federal stimulus money to create matching grants.

“I have directed our teams in each agency to ensure that this much-needed funding gets out the door to our struggling citizens and small businesses as quickly as possible,” Hogan said.

The governor’s relief plan announced Wednesday includes:

$50 million for the Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Fund; the new infusion brings total state spending for fund to $145 million since March and will clear a backlog of all applications that have been submitted.
$50 million in new relief for restaurants, which can be used to help them buy improvements including HVAC filtration, outdoor dining amenities, technology upgrades to help with carryout and delivery orders, protective equipment for employees, or to help with rent. This money will go to counties, which will distribute it to qualifying restaurants.
$20 million for grants from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to help businesses and entertainment venues in the state’s “Main Street Maryland” and “Baltimore Main Streets” programs.
$20 million to the COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund. This program already disbursed $20 million through the Maryland Department of Labor, and has saved 9,000 jobs, Hogan said.
Additional funding includes $5 million to the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority, $2 million for local tourism efforts, and $3 million for arts organizations and artists.

Another $100 million is set aside as an “emergency response fund,” which would allow the state to immediately direct money to areas of economic concern in the future, Hogan said.

The spending will be “critical to the thousands of struggling restaurants, small businesses and main streets across the state who are attempting to weather this crisis,” the governor said.

“Equally important to their survival will be all 24 jurisdictions finally moving into stage three of the Maryland strong roadmap to recovery plan,” Hogan said. State law allows counties to reopen at a pace slower than the statewide recommendations, depending on local health concerns.

Some of Maryland’s larger jurisdictions, where COVID-19 case rates have been higher, continue to limit certain businesses, including indoor dining.

“They had particular situations on the ground that caused them to go a little slower, which they thought was prudent,” Hogan said. But now, he said he believes health metrics in the counties warrant wider reopening efforts.

“We’re trying to get the schools open, we’re trying to get the businesses open,” Hogan said.

Overall, Maryland’s economy is rebounding faster than other states, but more help is still needed for small businesses, Hogan said.

“Our economy is doing better than the country and most almost all the states in America, but it’s still really bad. It’s not it’s not a great situation for all these hardworking, struggling folks,” he said.

The governor continued to call on federal lawmakers to get moving on a second round of nationwide stimulus relief.

“We need both parties in Washington to stop playing politics to end the gridlock and to get this done for the American people,” Hogan said. “Our small business community and our struggling Marylanders who depend on them for their jobs cannot afford to wait any longer.”

Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot (D), who has been instigating for a state-level small business stimulus, including at Wednesday’s Board of Public Works meeting chaired by Hogan, said after the announcement that the proposal was insufficient.

Franchot, a likely candidate for governor in 2022, has suggested an infusion of at least $500 million, either from 2020 surplus funds, the state’s rainy day fund, or through borrowing.

“Today’s announcement by Governor Hogan is a good start, but it’s simply not enough,” Franchot said. “Contrary to the Governor’s analysis of our fiscal posture, we are in a position to do more without taking another penny from the Rainy Day Fund.”

Franchot also noted that $100 million of Hogan’s proposal is not yet earmarked for relief.

“Just two years ago, the State of Maryland was willing to pony up $8.6 Billion to lure Amazon’s East Coast headquarters. Surely, we can do better than letting tens of thousands of small businesses, nonprofits, and Main Street communities fight over scraps,” Franchot said in a statement.

Hogan said during the press conference that his administration landed on the $250 million figure because it would leave the state’s rainy day fund with about $1 billion, which has been the state’s longtime recommended reserve level.

Hogan also cautioned Wednesday that the state is monitoring a small uptick in coronavirus-related hospitalizations in the past week and that small gatherings and parties continue to be the number one source of new cases in the state.

“We can’t let our guard down and we should remain vigilant ― even when we are in close contact with the people that we know and love,” Hogan said. “Outdoor activity continues to be much safer than indoor activity, and frequent hand washing remains a critically important tool. Following these simple guidelines will keep us firmly on the road to recovery and help us slow the spread, prevent the surge and keep Maryland open for business.”

By Danielle E. Gaines

Hogan: Non-Essential Businesses Must Close at 5 p.m., Residents Urged to Stay Home

March 23, 2020 by John Griep

Gov. Larry Hogan has ordered all non-essential businesses in the state to close effective 5 p.m. Monday, March 23.

“We are not issuing or ordering a shelter-in-place directive or forcing people to stay home,” Hogan said. “However, we are telling all Marylanders to follow all of the directives we’ve already issued and to follow state law against crowds of more than 10 people.

“And we are telling you, unless you have an essential reason to leave your house, then you should stay in your homes.

“Today’s actions of closing non-essential businesses are absolutely necessary to protect the health of Marylanders and to save lives,” the governor said. “This is an exceptionally challenging time for Marylanders and for all Americans and that includes those who are out of work and our small business community.

“Our first priority is saving the lives of thousands of Marylanders, and while we are fighting this unprecedented worldwide pandemic, at the same time we’re also facing another huge battle against the potential of tremendous economic harm,” Hogan said. “And we must tackle both of these problems aggressively and simultaneously. Both of these battles are going to take all of us at the federal, state and local levels and the private sector rising to this challenge and working together.”

The Office of Legal Counsel at the state attorney general’s office offered the following guidance concerning Hogan’s executive order:

1. Not a Shelter-in-Place Order. The Order is not a shelter-in-place order. However, all Marylanders are urged to remain home, and employers are urged to promote work-from-home arrangements to the greatest extent possible.

2. Businesses, Organizations, and Facilities That May Remain Open. The following is a non- exhaustive list of businesses, organizations, and facilities that are included in the federal critical infrastructure sectors. The Order does not require these businesses, organizations, and facilities to close.

a. The Chemical Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Pharmaceutical manufacturers.
ii. Chemical manufacturers.
iii. Distributors of chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

b. The Commercial Facilities Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Lodging.
ii. Building and property maintenance companies, including without limitation plumbers, electricians, HVAC service companies, roofers, environmental services companies, exterminators, arborists, and landscapers.
iii. Janitorial firms.
iv. Companies that sell supplies and materials for maintenance of commercial and residential buildings, including “big box” home improvement supply stores, plumbing distributors, electrical distributors, and HVAC distributors.
v. Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry services.
vi. Commercial and residential construction companies.
vii. Self-storage facilities.
Please note: Casinos, racetracks, simulcast betting facilities, enclosed malls, certain recreational establishments, and certain retail businesses are subject to specific provisions of this and other Orders, and are required to close. Please read the Order
carefully.

c. The Communications Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Broadcasting companies and stations.
ii. Cable TV companies.
iii. Telephone (cellular and landline) companies.
iv. Internet service providers.

d. The Critical Manufacturing Sector includes, but is not limited to, manufacturing of:
i. Steel, iron, and aluminum products.
ii. Engines, motors, turbines, generators, and power transmission equipment.
iii. Earth-moving, mining, agricultural, and construction equipment.
iv. Parts for water, electric, and telecommunications utility infrastructure.
v. Land, air, and water vehicles, and related parts.
vi. Medical equipment.
vii. Personal protective equipment.
viii. Cleaning and sanitation equipment and supplies.

e. The Defense Industrial Base Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Companies that research, develop, manufacture, or integrate weapons, defense, or intelligence systems or assets.
ii. Private contractors that support defense and intelligence agencies.

f. The Emergency Services Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Law enforcement.
ii. Emergency medical services.
iii. Emergency management.
iv. Fire and rescue services.
v. Private ambulance companies.

g. The Energy Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Companies engaged in electricity production (excluding hydroelectric and nuclear, which are included in other sectors).
ii. Companies engaged in the production, refining, storage, transportation, distribution, and sale of oil, gas, and propane products, including gas stations and truck stops.
iii. Companies that provide utility maintenance services.

h. The Financial Services Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Banks and credit unions.
ii. Non-bank lenders.
iii. Payroll processing companies.
iv. Payment processing companies.
v. Armored car companies.
vi. Insurance companies.
vii. Securities and investment companies.
viii. Accounting and bookkeeping firms.

i. The Food and Agriculture Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Grocery stores.
ii. Farmer’s markets.
iii. Convenience stores.
iv. Alcoholic beverage stores and distributors, distilleries, and wineries.
v. Institutional food service and supply companies.
vi. Farms.
vii. Food manufacturing and processing.
viii. Pet supply stores.
ix. Veterinary hospitals, clinics, and kennels.
x. Companies that manufacture, maintain, and sell agricultural equipment.
xi. Companies that manufacture, or support the manufacturing of paper products.
Please note: Restaurants and bars are subject to specific provisions of the Order, and are required to close (except for carry-out, delivery, and drive-through sales). Please read the Order carefully.

j. The Government Facilities Sector also encompasses private persons and entities that support
the judicial system including, but not limited to:
i. Lawyers and law firms.
ii. Court reporters.
iii. Bail bondsmen.

k. The Healthcare and Public Health Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Hospitals.
ii. Healthcare systems and clinics.
iii. Offices of health care providers, including physicians, dentists, and pharmacists.
iv. Physical, occupation, and speech therapists.
v. Behavioral health facilities and professionals, including psychologists, mental health counselors, and substance abuse counselors
vi. Rehabilitation facilities.
vii. Diagnostic facilities, including radiology, imaging, and laboratory facilities.
viii. Health plans, payors, and billing companies.
ix. Funeral homes and crematoriums.
x. Senior living facilities, including independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing.
xi. Manufacturers and distributors of medical equipment and supplies.
xii. Medical cannabis growers, processors, and dispensaries.
xiii. Home health care companies.
xiv. Pharmacies.

l. The Information Technology Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Companies that design, develop, distribute, host, sell, and support information technology software and hardware.
ii. Companies that provide network routing, access, and configuration services.

m. The Transportation Systems Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Airlines and operators of commercial aircraft (manned and unmanned).
ii. Airports, air strips, heliports, and seaplane bases.
iii. Railroads.
iv. Motor carriers.
v. Carriers of marine freight, including ocean carriers and inland carriers.
vi. Marine, rail, truck, and intermodal terminals, and operators thereof.
vii. Stevedores, longshoremen, baggage handlers, and others who handle cargo at
transportation hubs.
viii. Courier, package delivery, mail service, and mail management companies.
ix. Warehousing and distribution companies.
x. Pipeline owners, operators and maintenance companies.
xi. Lessors of transportation assets, including railcars and truck trailers.
xii. Companies that supply parts, or provide maintenance and repair services for transportation assets and infrastructure, including aircraft, marine vessels, locomotives, rail cars, trucks, buses, cars, heavy equipment, roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, air strips, marine terminals, railroads.
xiii. Automotive supply stores and repair shops.

n. The Water and Wastewater Systems Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Municipal, community, and other drinking water and wastewater systems and facilities.
ii. Well drillers.
iii. Companies that provide maintenance and inspection services for water and wastewater assets, including treatment works, residential water treatment systems, piping, pumps, tanks, drains, conveyances, and monitoring systems.
iv. Water testing companies.

o. Supporting Firms. The federal critical infrastructure sectors include firms providing the following to any other business, organization, or facility included in the federal critical infrastructure sectors:
i. Staffing and/or payroll services.
ii. Essential raw materials, products, or services.

3. Door-to-Door Solicitation. Door-to-door solicitation (even by businesses that are permitted to remain open) is likely to violate social-distancing guidelines and should be discontinued.

The list in #2 above is non-exhaustive. The fact that a particular business, organization, or facility is not included in the list does not mean it is excluded from the federal critical infrastructure sectors. Please consult https://www.cisa.gov/identifying-critical-infrastructure-during-covid-19 for additional guidance about what is and is not included in the federal critical infrastructure sectors.

Comptroller Urges $500 Million in Small Business Relief From State’s Rainy Day Fund

March 17, 2020 by Spy Desk

Comptroller Peter Franchot is calling for Governor Larry Hogan and the Maryland General Assembly to dip into the state’s Rainy Day Fund to provide a minimum of $500 million for small businesses that will be critically affected by the worsening COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s called a rainy day fund and in about two weeks, it’s going to be raining harder than we have ever seen in the State of Maryland for these small businesses,” Franchot said.

The comptroller has spoken with numerous small business owners who have already reported they are starting to feel the impacts from the pandemic, and it will only become more pronounced in the coming days, weeks and potentially months ahead.

The following is Comptroller Franchot’s full statement:

“Maryland’s local, independent businesses are the lifeblood of our state’s economy and the pillars of their communities. Having spoken directly with more small business owners over these past few days than I can count, I can assure you that, in the absence of extraordinary action, far too many of them are going to go under as a result of the economic devastation created by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The actions that have been proposed to date simply aren’t enough. To survive the next 45-60 days, these businesses need cash to pay their employees, their vendors, their landlords and the banks. I believe it is imperative that the State of Maryland borrow, AT A MINIMUM, $500 million from the State’s Rainy Day Fund and push it out the door as quickly as humanly possible to these business owners. Because, quite honestly, they don’t even know how they’re going to survive the next few days without customers or cash flow.

“In that same vein, I also believe that Congress must act now to enact its own federal stimulus relief package for these small businesses. I cannot overemphasize that SBA loans are not nearly sufficient here — these businesses don’t need loans – they need cash on the barrelhead, as they say, simply to get through the coming days and weeks.

“I don’t want to hear that we cannot afford it. In the years that I’ve served as your Comptroller, I’ve seen our state and federal governments shovel cash to the big banks, to our automakers, to the airlines, to Amazon and to gambling casinos. You will never, ever convince me that we cannot and should not stand up now and make a life altering investment in those local businesses that employ our neighbors and families, support other small businesses and put their names on every charitable and civic cause in their communities.

“The loss that is suffered every time a small business closes in a community is severe and far-ranging. The decimation of our small business sector in the State of Maryland and in the United States would, I believe, catapult us into the worst economic climate since the 1930s.”

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