On April 5, 2024, Governor Moore signed an executive order to establish temporary relief programs to support businesses and workers impacted by the Key Bridge collapse and disruption of operations to the Port of Baltimore.
Under the Executive Order, the Department of Housing and Community Development is authorizing the Neighborhood BusinessWorks Program to provide $15 million in grants and no-interest loans to eligible businesses of 500 or fewer employees that have been impacted by a loss of revenue or an increase to costs relating to the Key Bridge collapse and will be formally established upon the enactment of the PORT Act.
Neighborhood Business Works: Small Business Grants
Grants up to $50,000 (Up to $5M Allocated in Initial Funding)
Neighborhood Business Works: Loan Program
Loans up to $500,000 (Up to $10M Allocated in Initial Funding)
- 12 month payment deferral period
- Loan repayment term - subject to underwriting
- 0% Interest rates
- 10% forgiveness with timely repayment
NOTE: Loans over $500k may be considered through
DHCD’s traditional lending programs, subject to full underwriting and program criteria.
Eligibility and Restrictions
For Grant and Loan Programs
- Businesses with 500 or fewer Maryland employees are eligible
- Business must have a minimum of two employees
- Funds will be used to address revenue reductions and/or operating expense increases, the replacement of which are critical to the business continuity of operations and which were incurred beginning on March 26, 2024.
- Proof of loss of revenue or increased expenses due to bridge collapse/reduction in Port operations
- Grant requests must be located in a
5 mile radius of the Key Bridge and in a Priority Funding Area
- Loan requests have NO geographic limitation
- Must be registered and in good standing with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT)
- Non-profit organizations are not eligible
NOTE: Only applications that are fully complete at submission will be considered for funding. Funding requests will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis; however, individual loan awards and grant requests may be reduced from what is requested at the discretion of DHCD, including as a response to excess funding demand.
Documents
Application
Please use the application portal to submit or check the status of your application.
More Information
To find out more about this funding contact
portrecovery.dhcd@maryland.gov
If you are currently experiencing issues paying your mortgage, contact your servicer to inquire about forbearance options. To be connected to housing counseling and legal services, call 1-877-462-7555 or see Participating Housing Counseling and Legal Services Agencies to find an agency that can work with you to access relief.
Additional Port Act Programs
The PORT Act authorized additional programs established by the Department of Commerce and the Department of Labor to support businesses and workers impacted by the Key Bridge collapse and disruption of operations to the Port of Baltimore.
