March 19, 2020 – Secretaries Kelly Schulz (Commerce) and Tiffany Robinson (Labor) hosted a March 16, 2020 conference call to brief business leaders on state actions relating to COVID-19 and how businesses can cope with the outbreak and the state of emergency. 

The two agencies are
posting on-going updates and answering frequently asked questions for Maryland
businesses through a
dedicated state web site
.
They are also encouraging members of the business community to present
questions directly to Secretary.Commerce@maryland.gov.   

Maryland is working with
the Small Business Administration to produce guidance to businesses affected by
the outbreak on how to apply for low-interest Economic Injury Disaster
Loans.  Local economic development
offices are documenting impacts to small businesses to include in the state’s
request for a Federal declaration that would enable the lending program.  NAIOP members are encouraged to contact local
economic development offices with information about direct and indirect
business impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. 

Governor Hogan’s Executive Order extending licenses and permits
contains broad language applying the order to authorizations issued by the
state and any local government.  The
order also authorizes state agencies to suspend legal and regulatory
deadlines.   

Access to more detailed
information is available through the Maryland Virtual Business Operations Center
portal
, which serves as the
Maryland Emergency Management Administration’s central hub to disseminate
advanced information on emergency operations; announcements on briefings, conference
calls and webinars dedicated to specific topics; guidance on appropriate
cleaning and disinfectant practices; and information on grants, financing and
other business resources from Maryland, other states and the federal government.