Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.) announced Friday the launch of a program to help Port of Baltimore businesses affected by last month's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
“We must do everything in our power to support the 8,000 dockworkers whose jobs have been directly affected by the Key Bridge collapse, and the thousands more affected by this crisis. ,” Moore said in a press release Friday.
“Working in partnership with the Maryland General Assembly and our federal and local partners, we are reaching workers and businesses in need,” he continued. “Together, we will continue to ensure that no one is left behind in our response to bridge collapses.”
The Baltimore Port Worker Retention Program “gives grants to eligible organizations directly affected by reduced port operations” and “allows businesses to retain their employees until the port fully reopens.” The aim is to “minimize or eliminate the need for layoffs.” ” according to the policy. Employers can apply for up to $200,000 through this program, and the spending limit per worker is $7,500.
“Eligible applicants are Maryland-based small businesses, labor unions, trade associations, or those who rely on access to the Port’s private and public marine terminals and whose activities are impeded or suspended. “Companies that contract with or are members of industry associations that operate in the United States.'' “This is entirely due to the reduction in port operations,'' the program policy states. “All applicants must be committed to resuming operations to the fullest extent practicable once the ports are fully reopened.”
“Helping essential Port of Baltimore businesses and their employees get through this difficult time is my top priority,” Maryland Secretary of Labor Portia Wu said in a release about the program. said.
“The Worker Retention Program allows port operations to continue and workers to earn an income and support their families while the Army Corps and others work to reopen the shipping lanes,” Wu said.
The announcement comes just over two weeks after a cargo ship called the Dali lost power and crashed into the bridge, causing much of the structure to fall into the Patapsco River. Six of the eight construction workers who were working to fill holes in the bridge at the time were confirmed dead.
The vital port is closed for repairs, and the schedule and full cost of the reconstruction project have not yet been determined.
President Biden, who visited Baltimore shortly after the collapse, vowed to use government resources to support recovery efforts.
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