Business View Magazine - Dec 2023

and approved by the Maryland General Assembly tasked Maryland’s Office of Statewide Broadband to study the best ways to close the digital divide in all communities throughout the state. Governor Moore has also directed hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to expand broadband access, including announcing $267 million from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in July. Another $69 million funded through the American Rescue Plan was announced in October, and will help Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development bring broadband to approximately 15,000 underserved Maryland households. “Access to the internet is no longer optional – it is essential and nobody should be locked out of the internet because of their income or where they live,” Moore said. “When it comes to getting folks online, our administration is very clear: we will not rest until every single Marylander has access to affordable and reliable internet. SUPPORTING THE EMERGING CANNABIS INDUSTRY Maryland is also supporting the small businesses and entrepreneurs exploring the state’s new market for adult-use recreational cannabis use, which became legal in Summer 2023. The new Cannabis Business Assistance Fund, administered by the Maryland Department of Commerce, began accepting applications a few weeks beforehand, with its initial round of funds focused on helping cover licensing costs for businesses converting from medical-use to recreational-use. A second round of funds focused on social-equity applicants, meaning the funds were targeted to support businesses and communities that have been historically overlooked or disadvantaged; future rounds of funding may target cannabis- related programs at Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities and business incubators. FACING CLIMATE CHANGE As the need to address global climate change increases in urgency, Maryland has taken steps not only to improve the quality of its energy 214 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 12