Maryland’s small businesses can expect relief soon, Gov. Larry Hogan says.
The governor will draw $250 million from the state’s rainy day fund for COVID-19 financial relief, he announced Thursday.
The funding, which will be distributed to local jurisdictions by the end of the year, will be spent on a combination of new relief programs and an expansion of existing relief programs.
Hogan called the federal government to task for their lack of action in providing financial relief.
“We need both parties in Washington to stop playing politics, to end the gridlock and to get this done for the American people,” he said. "We can't do it alone. We still need that stimulus package on the federal level."
One-hundred million dollars of the total funding will be designated for the emergency rapid response fund, $50 million will be spent on relief for restaurants, $50 million will be spent on small business grants and $20 million will be directed to the layoff aversion fund.
Expanded economic relief from the state comes amid “no sign of action from Washington,” Hogan’s communications director said in a tweet earlier Thursday.
Negotiations on a federal COVID-19 relief bill are inching forward, but it's clear the window for action before the Nov. 3 election is closing and the issue will be tossed to a post-election lame-duck session of Congress, the Associated Press reported.
At issue is a huge virus relief bill that would send another $1,200 direct payment to most Americans, restart bonus unemployment benefits, fund additional testing and vaccines, provide aid to schools and allocate money to states and local governments.
