Here's What Maryland Is Getting As Part Of The Coronavirus Stimulus Package
WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act into law late last month, making money available for individuals, businesses and organizations struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Here's a look at some of the programs the CARES Act, also known as the coronavirus stimulus package, will fund in Maryland.
AIRPORTS
Airports across the country will get $10 billion in relief amid the pandemic. In Maryland, 18 airports will get a total of $107,731,471.
Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport will get $87.6 million under the program.
To learn more, click here.
ARTS
Maryland Humanities is giving out $500,000 in grants to cultural organizations as part of funding made available to the National Endowment for the Humanities under the CARES Act.
To learn more, click here.
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Private and public colleges in Maryland will share $170 million to aid their responses to the pandemic. Roughly half of the money each school gets will go to students facing emergency expenses due to COVID-19.
The University of Maryland College Park will get the largest share of the money.
To see how much each school will get, click here.
FOOD
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Maryland's plan to provide food assistance to all children who would be receiving free or reduced-price school meals but aren't due to the pandemic.
The state's Department of Human Services estimates that population at 427,000 children.
Nationwide, the CARES Act provided $8.8 billion for child nutrition programs.
To learn more, click here.
HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
Maryland hospitals and health care providers will get nearly $750 million to bolster their responses to COVID-19. Congress allocated $100 billion to the program nationwide; the $750 million Maryland got was part of the initial wave of awards totaling $30 billion.
Roughly $400 million of the funds will go to Maryland hospitals while $342 million will go to outpatient health care providers.
To learn more, click here.
HOUSING
Maryland is getting more than $9 million to help tenant-based housing voucher recipients amid the pandemic. Baltimore is getting around one-third of the money.
For more details, click here.
INDIVIDUALS
Millions of Americans have already gotten or will soon get stimulus checks based on a number of factors, including the number of children they have.
In general, adults will get $1,200 and $500 per child, but there are exceptions.
Click here for more information about who qualifies and who doesn't.
Officials are also warning of numerous scams related to the stimulus checks.
READ MORE:
- Coronavirus-Related Scams Involving Stimulus Checks, Water Filters Being Reported
- Md. Attorney General Warns Of Scam Asking Residents To Complete Census To Receive Stimulus Check
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh is urging the federal government to make sure the stimulus funds go to those in need and aren't eligible for garnishment by debt collectors.
JOBS
Maryland is getting more than $1.6 million in grants to help create temporary disaster relief jobs for workers who were laid off due to the coronavirus.
Nationwide, the CARES Act provided $345 million for the program.
To learn more, click here.
LEGAL SERVICES
Maryland will get $422,690 in federal money to help provide legal services to low-income residents.
For more details, click here.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Local governments in Maryland will share $48,404,965 to deal with economic hardships and housing impacts caused by COVID-19. Nearly $21 million will go to Baltimore.
For a full breakdown, click here.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Maryland public safety agencies will get $6.6 million of the $850 million the Department of Justice has made available to agencies to address coronavirus-related challenges.
The money can be used to cover overtime costs, hire more employees and buy protective equipment and supplies.
To learn more, click here.
SMALL BUSINESSES
The CARES Act created a program called the Paycheck Protection Program that provides $349 billion to small businesses nationwide to help them through the coronavirus pandemic.
Maryland businesses are eligible to apply for forgivable loans through participating banks and credit unions. The loans will be forgiven if a business uses the money to keep its workers on its payroll for eight weeks and to cover expenses like rent and utilities.
As of April 16, more than 26,000 businesses in Maryland had been awarded more than $6.5 billion in funding. The program has since stopped accepting applications due to running out of funding.
READ MORE: More Than 26K Maryland Small Businesses Get Loans Through Paycheck Protection Program
The city of Baltimore has also partnered with Goldman Sachs and Lendistry on a multi-million dollar program to help small businesses in the city.
The program hasn't been without controversy, though; a group of Maryland businesses has started a class-action lawsuit against Bank of America for the bank's plan to prioritize existing customers when doling out funds through the program. Bank of America has said doing so would speed up the process and get money to businesses faster.
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.
