Message from the CEO

Key Bridge Collapse: Collaborative Response and Resource Updates

It has been a difficult time over the last week with the collapse of the Key Bridge and its impact on the Port of Baltimore and the region. We continue to work with federal, state and local partners to understand the available resources and provide a coordinated response.

Please see the information below and stay tuned for future updates. Also reach out to us at economicedge@hceda.org with any questions. We especially would like to hear how your businesses are impacted. Let's work together to navigate through this challenging time.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Jones, CEO

Key Bridge Collapse: Resources to Recovery

Only one week ago, we received the shocking news of the Key Bridge collapse and its subsequent implications for the Port of Baltimore. The ramifications of this incident will reverberate well beyond the confines of the Baltimore region, significantly affecting our local communities as well.

• The Maryland Department of Labor has created an unemployment insurance hotline for workers affected by the collapse. Impacted workers can call 667-930-5989 from 8 a.m. - 5p.m., Monday-Friday, or file online in BEACON: beacon.labor.maryland.gov/beacon/claimant-page.html.
• For businesses that have been impacted, applications for low-interest disaster loans can be submitted at lending.sba.gov to help support you and your employees as our partners work to open the channel.
• The Maryland Emergency Management Agency runs the Private Sector Integration Program (PSIP). Its mission is "incorporating the private sector into the emergency management framework to provide a voice to the business community during emergencies and increase information sharing between the private and public sectors." Businesses can sign up to participate in PSIP here: mdem.maryland.gov/Pages/psip.aspx. Presently, PSIP holds daily briefings on the Bridge and Port situation.

Multiple state agencies are collaborating on a website that will contain up-to-date information for the private sector, both employers and employees. Until available - several other organizations have created information pages: 

• The Maryland Transportation Authority has set up a page on its website with information about the transportation complications and detours suggested to mitigate delays. This website can be found here: mdta.maryland.gov/keybridgenews.  
• For the most up to date information on Key Bridge response and resources, visit keybridgeresponse2024.com.  
• The Maryland Chamber of Commerce has started "Building Bridges to Recovery" where they will share the most up to date information for business resources: mdchamber.org/business-resources-hub/

Statistics

Here are a few statistics demonstrating the Port’s impact on our economy:  

•  The Port of Baltimore is the busiest U.S. port for car shipments, handling more than 750,000 vehicles of major automakers in 2023, according to data from the Maryland Port Administration.  
• It is the largest U.S. port by volume for handling farm and construction machinery, as well as agricultural products.  
• In 2023, the port was the second busiest for coal exports.
• It is also a cruise terminal, with a number of operators using the port for Caribbean, Canadian, and other Atlantic destinations. 
• The Port of Baltimore is also extremely significant to the local economy. It generates nearly $3.3 billion in total personal income and $2.6 billion in business income annually and supports 15,330 direct jobs at the Port and 139,180 additional jobs connected to Port activities. 

Ships heading towards Baltimore will now have to divert to other East Coast ports in the region, depending on their cargo handling capabilities and the individual supply chains that use them. 

These are likely to be the Ports of Virginia; New York/New Jersey; Wilmington, North Carolina; and the Port of Philadelphia. New York/New Jersey and Virginia will likely be able to accommodate the increased traffic. Virginia will be able to handle coal imports and exports. However, more specialized supply chains that rely on the Port of Baltimore, including the sugar industry, could be more severely impacted.  

How to Help Those Affected

As we collectively navigate through the aftermath of the Key Bridge collapse and the subsequent shutdown of the Port of Baltimore, it is imperative that we come together to support those impacted by this unfortunate event. 

While state and federal resources are diligently working to salvage the Francis Scott Key Bridge and devise plans for its replacement, Baltimore-area nonprofits and organizations are stepping up to offer assistance to affected families and workers.