Maryland ranks near the bottom among states whose small businesses are most affected by the coronavirus, according to a study released on Monday.

The WalletHub study found that Maryland ranked 40th among 51 jurisdictions in terms of small businesses most affected due to the virus. Hawaii ranked first and the District of Columbia ranked last. Maryland ranked 48th among states with the highest average annual federal small-business funding per GDP. Mississippi had the lowest annual federal small-business funding per GDP.

The study based its findings on three criteria: “Impact & Access to Resources,” “Small-Business Financial Conditions” and “Business Environment & Workforce Support.” The three criteria are evaluated across 12 metrics. Each metric is weighted on a scale of 0-100. WalletHub used data from U.S. government agencies such as the Census Bureau, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Science Foundation.

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Maryland Retailers Association President Cailey Locklair Tolle said many of the small-business owners she has spoken to are “frustrated.” Tolle said many of them “need help navigating the resources available” and that those who have “are anxiously awaiting financial assistance.”

Tolle said of the WalletHub study: “Compared to other states, I’m not sure per capita how many small businesses we have, but if it is fewer than others, that could contribute to these findings.”

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