Christ Yoder
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ANNAPOLIS, MD — On Thursday afternoon, Governor Larry Hogan provided an update on Maryland’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March, the state granted $ 75 million in emergency loans to businesses in Maryland. Governor Hogan on Thursday ordered the Maryland Department of Commerce to write off the entire $ 75 million emergency loan debt. The loans will be converted into grants, which will not need to be repaid.
“Today we are immediately taking further state action to help businesses struggling to hang on to avoid the prospect of more layoffs just before Christmas or being forced to close in a matter of weeks. Governor Hogan said.
The governor announced that he had signed an executive order to protect Maryland businesses from sudden or substantial increases in their unemployment taxes.
In addition, the state will fund $ 25 million in low-income housing tax credit projects, which will enable and promote the construction of 2,000 high-quality affordable housing units – the highest number. units that the state has ever funded.
Governor Hogan also announced $ 12 million in funding for the rental housing works program, which will boost even more projects and create jobs for construction workers statewide.
The governor also announced $ 94 million in new grants and investments to help treat Marylanders with diabetes, the number one comorbidity of serious illnesses from COVID-19.
An additional investment of $ 10 million will be used to fund PPE and protective barriers for the 34 district courts, rapid test equipment for the Maryland State Police, and additional resources to increase internet access for the youth of Baltimore City.
