Some temporary worker and business relief programs for those affected by the Key Bridge collapse will close Friday following the reopening of the shipping channel and the arrival of the Dali in Norfolk, Virginia.
Three programs, the Maryland Department of Labor Worker Support Program, the Maryland Department of Commerce Business Assistance Program and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Business Grant Program, will sunset Friday, Gov. Wes Moore announced June 14.
The last day to submit new applications for the Worker Support Program is Friday. Workers whose hours and income are less than they were before the bridge collapsed March 26 can qualify for a $430 weekly compensation for up to 13 weeks, according to the Department of Labor.
The program has provided over $13 million in payments to about 3,200 workers, the department said.
The commerce department’s Business Assistance Program is also accepting applications until Friday for business owners who can demonstrate a reduction in revenue or increased operation costs. The Business Grant Program is authorized to roll out $15 million in grants, up to $50,000 each, to impacted businesses with 500 or fewer employees.
According to a news release from the governor’s office, worker and business relief programs have provided $37.4 million in assistance, with $6.4 million going to minority- or women-owned businesses, and $22 million to support businesses in the Baltimore metropolitan area since the programs were established in April.
The Department of Housing and Community Development Business Loan Program, which provides loans of up to $500,000 to impacted businesses, will end Aug. 15, Moore announced. Applications for the Worker Retention Program, overseen by the Department of Labor, closed in May, and final grants were awarded earlier this month.
The five financial and economic relief programs created by Moore’s administration following the passage of the PORT Act prevented more than 3,000 jobs from layoffs, according to a news release from the governor’s office. The programs were also able to provide millions of dollars in financial assistance and unemployment insurance to thousands of workers.
