In a COVID-19 update press conference on Thursday, December 17, Maryland Governor Hogan announced the distribution of an additional $180 million in relief funding for families and small businesses, including:

• $50 million for hotels, motels, and hospitality businesses, to be used for payroll expenses, rent, and utilities.
  • This funding will be distributed by local jurisdictions to go toward payroll expenses, rent, and utilities in order to keep operations going while travel is restricted.
     
• $30 million for restaurants – with immediate distribution by county governments.
  • This will now total $80 million. Local jurisdictions are encouraged to distribute this money quickly and to match this investment where possible.
     
• $15 million for entertainment venues through the Main Street program.
  • This assistance is for entertainment venues part of the state’s successful Main Street program at the Maryland Department of Housing, which will now total $35 million.
     
• $5 million for socially and economically or socially disadvantaged businesses in rural counties.
  • As part of a new relief initiative, this funding is to help socially or economically disadvantaged tech-based businesses in the state’s rural counties.
     
• $40 million for temporary cash assistance benefits, for families needing it most.
  • This funding provides a $100 boost to the Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) benefit for each of the next six months. This will help more than 66,000 Maryland families that are struggling to make ends meet.
     
• $40 million to developmentally disabled care providers, beginning on January 1, 2021.
  • Accelerated six months sooner than initially planned.
     

For more information regarding the governor's relief funding and other news, click here.