BALTIMORE, MD—The state of Maryland has announced that the Francis Scott Key Bridge worker and business relief programs will sunset on June 28, 2024.

The programs were established to help Maryland workers and businesses impacted by the Key Bridge collapse. The programs have distributed $37.4 million to help more than 2,800 impacted workers and protect more than 3,000 jobs from layoffs.

The programs provided $16.7 million in direct financial assistance to more than 2,800 impacted workers. The money was disbursed in the form of one-time payments, mortgage relief, rent and utilities assistance. The programs also disbursed $5 million in regular unemployment insurance benefits to more than 1,100 workers.

The state established the programs within two weeks of the PORT Act being signed into law and one month after the Key Bridge collapse. The programs were designed to help individuals and businesses struggling under the weight of the bridge collapse and have been instrumental in helping families and businesses pay their bills and weather the storm.

“One of my four key directives after the Key Bridge collapsed was to take care of everyone affected by this crisis, from our workers to our businesses. By moving in partnership, we met that directive head-on,” said Gov. Moore. “Thanks to the collaboration of bipartisan lawmakers and leaders across state government, we stood up financial relief programs at incredible speed, avoiding mass layoffs and deep financial pain for countless workers and businesses. Our call was simple: Mission First – People Always. Together, Maryland answered that call.”

The Maryland Department of Labor will continue to work with affected workers to help them transition back to work and support their recovery. Officials say the state is committed to providing Maryland workers with the resources and support needed to rebuild their lives and livelihoods impacted by the Key Bridge collapse.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo: Unified Command’s ongoing salvage work in the Fort McHenry Federal Channel nears its conclusion, as shown in these aerial photos taken Friday afternoon, June 7, 2024. Courtesy of Maryland State Police Aviation Command, salvors continue pulling massive, mangled chunks of Francis Scott Key Bridge wreckage from the watery depths of the Patapsco River.