The City of Hagerstown’s Department of Community and Economic Development would like to share the following information and resources to assist businesses during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Maryland Essential Business List (Updated March 31, 2020)

Governor Larry Hogan’s March 30, 2020 Executive Orders 
Executive Order 20-03-30-01

Office of Legal Counsel Interpretive Guidance - COVID 19-07

Office of Legal Counsel Interpretive Guidance - COVID 19-08 (Clarifies Curbside Pickup at Restaurants.  Under this Order, Restaurants and Bars are not classified as Non-Essential Businesses. Therefore, the prohibition on curbside pickup described in OLC Interpretive Guidance document COVID19-07 does not apply to Restaurants and Bars.)

Governor Larry Hogan’s March 23, 2020 Executive Orders
Office of Legal Counsel Interpretive Guidance - COVID 19 (04) 

Office of Legal Counsel Interpretive Guidance - COVID 19 (05)

Please complete this survey if you think your business should be excluded from shutting down.  (Please note there are no guarantees of exclusion):

Essential Status Request Link

Paycheck Protection Program

Treasury and the Small Business Administration announced that the application for the Paycheck Protection Program is now LIVE. These loans will be forgiven in full so long as they are used to keep workers on your payroll. This program is first come, first served, so please review this information as soon as possible.

City DCED Grant Program Revised in Response to the COVID-19 Crisis

The City Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) has reconfigured our Spring Sprout Grant Program in response to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis.  The program is open to businesses in the City Center Mixed Use Zoning (CC-MU) Zoning District providing grants up to $750.  DCED has more than doubled the availability of funding, increased grant levels from $500 to $750, and will be expediting payments to businesses on a rolling basis until funding is fully expended.

Applications can be found here.

Maryland COVID 19 Emergency Relief Fund Programs for Businesses

Maryland has authorized $130 million in loan and grant funding for small businesses and manufacturers that have been negatively impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). This emergency assistance provides interim relief and proceeds that can be used to pay cash operating expenses including payroll, suppliers, rent, fixed debt payments and other mission critical cash operating costs.

If you are a Maryland-based business impacted by the Coronavirus with under 50 full- and part-time employees, or a Maryland manufacturer, check out the programs below to see if you qualify for assistance.

Maryland Small Business COVID 19 Emergency Relief Loan Fund - This $75 million loan fund (for for-profit businesses only) offers no interest or principal payments due for the first 12 months, then converts to a 36-month term loan of principal and interest payments, with an interest rate at 2% per annum.

Maryland Small Business COVID 19 Emergency Relief Grant Fund - This $50 million grant program for businesses and non-profits offers grant amounts up to $10,000, not to exceed 3 months of demonstrated cash operating expenses for the first quarter of 2020.

Maryland COVID 19 Emergency Relief Manufacturing Fund - This $5 million incentive program helps Maryland manufacturers to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) that is urgently needed by hospitals and health-care workers across the country. More details are expected to be announced by Friday, March 27, 2020.

Maryland COVID 19 Layoff Aversion Fund - This is a grant up to $50,000 to assist you to implement ways to avoid layoffs at your business.

Below are additional email addresses if you have resources to provide or sell:

• Resource requests for supplies and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):  request.mema@maryland.gov
• Businesses wanting to sell items:  resource.mema@maryland.gov or dgs.mema@maryland.gov
• Volunteers wishing to serve or make donations:  ngs.mema@maryland.gov or https://governor.maryland.gov/marylandunites/

Business Survival Guide

The Maryland Small Business Development Center has developed a Small Business Survival Guide.   The guide is being updated daily (or several times a day as needed).

CARES Act Small Business Owner’s Survival Guide - This guide provides information about the major programs and initiatives that will soon be available from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to address these needs, as well as some additional tax provisions that are outside the scope of SBA.

SBA Loan Step by Step Application Guide

The Maryland Small Business Development Center has provided a step by step guide to filing in the disaster loan application portal.  

Maryland Department of Commerce

A Letter from Secretary Schulz: COVID-19 Business Resource Webpage Launches Today

Dear valued Members of Maryland’s Business Community,

Today, the Maryland Department of Commerce in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Labor, the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, and several other state agencies launched a new webpage dedicated to business resources during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The webpage, available on the Maryland Business Express portal, features several resources available for business throughout the state, including guidelilnes for employers, fair labor standards, information on insurance claims, opportunities for financial assistance, tax questions, and more.

To find resources or learn more about how to keep yourself, your families, and your workers safe, please visit businessexpress.maryland.gov/coronavirus.

We are working diligently to help keep businesses informed as updates are available.  Do not hesitate to reach out to us with additional questions at Secretary.Commerce@maryland.gov.

Thank you,

- Kelly