Business

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, one of the largest not-for-profit health care organizations in the nation, opened space in its Baltimore headquarters office April 1 to assist the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) efforts to help businesses affected by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. The opening of the CareFirst Engagement Center in Baltimore at 1501 South Clinton St. came days after Gov. Wes Moore requested a disaster declaration from the SBA to allow small businesses to apply for federal loans to help make payroll and cover other bills resulting from the closure of Baltimore’s port due to the collapse of the Key Bridge.

Leadership Maryland, the statewide nonprofit offering professional development programs dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its business and community leaders, Tuesday announced the 40 individuals selected to participate in the first class of the Emerging Leader Program. The Emerging Leader Program’s Class of 2024 consists of 40 rising stars and high-potential employees from across the state who are poised for upward growth within their organizations and who are eager to hone their core leadership skills.

A company that aims to personalize the hotel experience will take over a small group of rooms at a downtown Baltimore hotel this month. New York-based Roomza has a three-year agreement to occupy 30 rooms in the Lord Baltimore Hotel starting around mid-April. The company and its founders Curtis Crimmins and Samantha Spring want to bring a more personal touch to often bland hotel rooms by catering to guest preferences that range from satin pillowcases on the bed to a preferred religious text on the nightstand.

As expected, the DC Council unanimously passed the Monumental deal Tuesday evening. Prior to the vote, many council members voiced concerns about the terms of the deal they saw for the first time 24 hours before the scheduled vote. Councilmember At-Large Robert White said, “The Mayor dropped the ball. The only reason we have the teams back is because Virginia fumbled.”

The deadly collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge could rival or beat the maritime industry’s largest-ever financial loss, with insurance claims expected to reach $1 billion or more. “It’s going to be a big claim, and the big number there is the potential cost to rebuild the bridge,” said John A. Miklus, president of the American Institute of Marine Underwriters, in an interview Tuesday, a week after the bridge was struck by the freighter Dali and collapsed, killing six people. “This is one of the largest, most complicated marine claims I can think of.”

The owner of the ship that toppled Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge is seeking to cap the amount of damages the company can be forced to pay for the disaster at $43 million. The Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Ltd. filed a “limitation of liability” action in federal court Monday, invoking a little-known statute used in maritime law.

UPS will become the primary air cargo provider for the United States Postal Service. The Atlanta shipping company said Monday that it had received an air cargo contract from the U.S. Postal Service that significantly expands an existing partnership between the two. UPS will move the majority of air cargo in the U.S. for the postal service following a transition period, according to UPS.