GOVERNOR O'MALLEY ANNOUNCES MORE THAN 1,000 MARYLANDERS HIRED OFF UNEMPLOYMENT ROLLS

GOVERNOR O'MALLEY ANNOUNCES MORE THAN 1,000 MARYLANDERS

HIRED OFF UNEMPLOYMENT ROLLS THROUGH JOBS TAX CREDIT

ANNAPOLIS, MD  –  Governor Martin O’Malley announced that Maryland’s Job Creation and Recovery Tax has helped put more than 1,000 unemployed Marylanders back to work since March, with 586 businesses taking advantage of the program to date. The tax credit, which Governor O’Malley spearheaded and was passed as emergency legislation earlier this year, offers a $5,000 tax credit for each employee that a business hires off the unemployment rolls, capped at $250,000 per business. The program runs through December 31, 2010 and the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation is continuing to accept applications at http://www.dllr.maryland.gov/.

Earlier this month, Middle River Aircraft Systems in Baltimore hired Lloyd Coates with the help of the tax credit, making Mr. Coates the 1000^th unemployed Marylander hired through the program.

“The Job Creation and Recovery Tax Credit is playing an integral role in moving Maryland’s economy forward, helping 1,000 Marylanders return to the workforce in recent months.  These are moms and dads with families to feed that are now beginning to get back on their feet as Maryland emerges from this national recession stronger and more quickly than other states,” said Governor O’Malley. “This program is one of many tools our Administration is using to help save, create and retain jobs and improve the conditions in Maryland that allow businesses – small, medium and large – to create and save jobs in our State.”

“The State of Maryland has always been supportive of our business and our employees,” said Sagar Patel, president, Mechanical Systems for GE Aviation. “We are pleased to see the 1000^th employee in Maryland hired to help growth in the State and are happy to see that they were an employee at GE’s Middle River Aircraft Systems.”

To date, the credit has been used throughout Maryland, with Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard and Montgomery counties and Baltimore City businesses hiring a large percentage of the unemployed workers. Companies that have hired more than a dozen workers through the program include Coastal Sunbelt Produce in Savage; NATELCO Corp in Capitol Heights; Dixie Construction in Churchville; Harvard Custom Manufacturing in Salisbury and Citicorp Credit Services in Hagerstown.

“Working with our partners at the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, we are continuing to educate our businesses around the State on the ease of applying for the tax credit,” said Christian S. Johansson, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. “This program is helping to lessen the burden on our Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund by nearly $6.5 million, which in turn increases its solvency and helps mitigate any potential increases to businesses.”

“This landmark hire represents just one of 1,000 people that the tax credit has helped to re-enter the workforce, improve their lives and support their families,” said Alexander M. Sanchez, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. “For employers that still want to claim the credit, we can help  reach potential qualifying employees through our local One Stop Career Centers and provide guidance on how to screen for qualified employees during the hiring process.”

Businesses looking to hire unemployed Marylanders can work with their local One-Stop Career Centers, where they can obtain information about the tax credit program and identify qualifying prospective employees. A list of One-Stops is available at www.dllr.maryland.gov/county/.

In the past year, the O’Malley-Brown Administration has implemented an aggressive agenda of new and expanded programs to create jobs, retain jobs and improve the conditions that allow businesses large and small to create and save jobs, including: 

·         Expanding the Small Business Loan Guaranty program to increase access to credit;

·         Creating InvestMaryland, an administrative and legislative proposal designed to support the growth of the state’s knowledge based industries by stimulating investment in the Maryland Venture Fund; and

·         Modernizing the State’s unemployment insurance trust fund, and maintaining its solvency by leveraging federal funds.