News Release
Statewide Coalition Launches to Support Business Recovery
Apr 5, 2024
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — In response to the catastrophic Key Bridge collapse, a number of leading business organizations across Maryland have united to form the Building Bridges to Recovery Coalition. The coalition includes the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, Greater Baltimore Committee, World Trade Center Institute, Greater Washington Partnership, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, regional and local chambers, economic councils, industry associations, neighborhood groups and others connected to impacted industries and communities.
The Key Bridge and Port of Baltimore infrastructure played a vital role connecting neighborhoods and facilitating the movement of goods, services, and tens of thousands of daily commuters. Its failure has already had an immense impact on businesses, residences, and communities across the region — a repercussion that will continue for the foreseeable future.
The Building Bridges to Recovery Coalition serves as a centralized hub to better coordinate efforts
- Information Exchange: Providing coalition members and businesses across the state with access to vital updates, assessments and insights on business impacts across sectors.
- Business Impact Information: Compiling and sharing data regarding impacts, challenges faced, resources needed to aid response efforts, support businesses, workforce and more.
- Connection to Resources: Connecting networks and businesses to funding, assistance programs and services for continuity and recovery via the coalition's mdchamber.org/Bridge resource hub.
- Advocacy: Sharing the stories of impacted businesses and communities with policymakers and media, advocating for robust recovery assistance that responds to the needs of the business community.
“Businesses are the backbone of Maryland's economy and communities," said Mary D. Kane, President & CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. "This crisis has dealt a tremendous blow across every industry and region. We must unite as one powerful voice advocating for the business community's interests. This coalition does just that, harnessing our collective strength to facilitate critical information sharing, resource access and advocacy for impacted businesses."
"The Building Bridges to Recovery Coalition will ensure that the many businesses and industries across our region that have been impacted by this tragic event have access to the resources they need to meaningfully recover," said Mark Anthony Thomas, President & CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee. "The wide-ranging economic leadership and expertise represented in this coalition will provide a centralized hub that businesses at every level across our jurisdiction can rely on for support during a time when close collaboration and robust information exchange is especially essential."
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce represents businesses of all sizes nationwide that have been impacted by the loss of the Key Bridge's vital transportation corridor,” said Marty Durbin, Senior Vice President, Policy, for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Through this coalition we will champion pro-growth policies and advocate for the resources necessary to revitalize affected communities and businesses.”
“Each year at our Annual State of the Ports event we see first-hand just how integral the Port of Baltimore is to our region’s economy,” said Eddie Resende, CEO of the World Trade Center Institute. “Over the last two weeks, we have heard from many of our members about the challenges they now face. The difficulties facing our region are immense, but I am confident our state will unite to face them head on. We are proud to join with other leaders in Maryland’s business community to play our part in moving Maryland forward.”
“The Greater Washington Partnership is committed to ensuring this catastrophic infrastructure failure does not diminish our region's economic vibrancy and competitiveness,” said Kathy Hollinger, CEO of the Greater Washington Partnership. “We are proud to join this coalition giving employers across Maryland, Virginia and D.C. a unified voice to advocate for the resources and solutions needed to rebuild critical transportation networks and revitalize impacted businesses.”
“The Maryland Chamber Federation is proud to join in the efforts to represent and advocate for the interests of our state's diverse business communities,” said Bill Chambers, Chair of the Maryland Chamber Federation and President & CEO, Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce. Through this coalition, we ensure their voices and needs are heard as we rebuild our economy stronger and more resilient than ever before.”
The Building Bridges to Recovery Coalition is currently offering the following resources for the business community:
- Impact Survey: The coalition is conducting a statewide business impact survey to understand how organizations of all sizes and industries have been affected, even those not directly connected to the Port or bridge area. Survey feedback will inform response efforts and aid in advocating for resources from the Governor's Office, Department of Commerce, federal agencies and the state legislature.
- Resource Hub: A Resource Hub has been launched at mdchamber.org/Bridge to compile key information, updates and support tools for impacted businesses.
Building Bridges to Recovery Coalition Members:
The coalition is grateful to the growing number of business organizations, associations, local and regional chambers, economic development groups and community organizations who have joined this effort Current members include:
Founding Partners
- Maryland Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Baltimore Committee
- World Trade Center Institute
- Greater Washington Partnership
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Associations, Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development and Community Groups
- Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc.
- Maryland Motor Truck Association
- Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership
- Maryland Tech Council
- Maryland Tourism Coalition
- Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland
- Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce
- Cecil County Chamber of Commerce
- Central Maryland Chamber
- Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce
- Dundalk Renaissance Corporation
- Frederick County Chamber of Commerce
- Frederick County Office of Economic Development
- Greater Baltimore Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce
- Harford County Chamber of Commerce
- Howard County Chamber of Commerce
- Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber
- Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce
- Worcester County Chamber of Commerce in Ocean Pines
Corporate Partners
The coalition also thanks corporate partners including Amazon, Comcast NBC Universal, Maryland Bankers Association, T. Rowe Price, and The Johns Hopkins University for providing vital support.
Our hearts go out to the workers and families impacted by this disaster, the first responders, the crews working around the clock on recovery and restoration efforts, and all the people, communities, workers and businesses who have been affected by this unthinkable tragedy. The Maryland Chamber of Commerce and the Building Bridges to Recovery Coalition stand ready to support businesses in overcoming the immediate and long-term challenges. Together, we are stronger and will revitalize to emerge more resilient than before.
Organizations can visit mdchamber.org/Bridge to access the Resource Hub, take the impact survey, and subscribe for ongoing coalition updates. For more information, contact aludwig@mdchamber.org.
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About the Maryland Chamber of Commerce
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce is the only statewide business advocacy organization and the leading voice for business in the state. Together with their 6,800+ members, they form a statewide coalition that is committed to ensuring that Maryland is attracting and retaining quality jobs, developing vibrant, sustainable communities and staying at the forefront of global competitiveness and economic prosperity.
About Greater Baltimore Committee
The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) is the leading voice for the private sector in the Baltimore region, providing insightful economic and civic leadership to drive collective impact. Composed of more than 400 organizations, including large, mid-size, and small companies, nonprofits, foundations, and educational and healthcare institutions, the GBC is dedicated to fostering the prosperity of the Greater Baltimore region. Learn more at gbc.org.
About World Trade Center Institute
The World Trade Center Institute empowers globally minded leaders from the Mid-Atlantic with ideas and connections to drive growth and global good. We focus on existing and emerging global business leaders in the Mid-Atlantic — from high school students to executives in the C-Suite — whose work touches people in the United States and countries worldwide. Our network includes 3,500+ companies and hundreds of academic institutions, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, making it the largest network of global businesses in the Mid-Atlantic.
WTCI hosts events where people can learn and connect. We also offer fellowships to executives who want to grow into the C-Suite at global entities and high school and college students who want a career that touches many cultures and countries. We also help people from other countries learn about a range of issues from their counterparts in the Mid-Atlantic. Learn more at wtci.org.
About Greater Washington Partnership
Greater Washington Partnership is the first-of-its-kind nonprofit alliance of the region’s most influential CEOs from leading employers across industry sectors in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. — all committed to championing the region’s economic growth and vibrancy. Together, we leverage our collective experiences, resources and assets to identify shared challenges and offer real solutions to the region’s most critical issues including skills and talent, regional mobility, infrastructure and inclusive growth. Our goal is to ensure the entire region, from Baltimore to Richmond, remains vibrant, economically competitive, prosperous for all and is the best place to live, work and build a business. Learn more at greaterwashingtonpartnership.com.
About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization representing companies of all sizes across every sector of the economy. Our members range from the small businesses and local chambers of commerce that line the Main Streets of America to leading industry associations and large corporations. They all share one thing: They count on the U.S. Chamber to be their voice in Washington, across the country, and around the world. For more than 100 years, we have advocated for pro-business policies that help businesses create jobs and grow our economy. Learn more at uschamber.com.
About the Maryland Chamber Federation
The Maryland Chamber Federation, an initiative of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, is a partnership representing 30 local and regional chambers of commerce, along with statewide associations and their members. By uniting diverse business communities, the Federation strives to ensure that the perspectives of Maryland’s small businesses are actively heard in legislative discussions, promoting economic growth and community vitality. Learn more at mdchamber.org/federation.
