Credit: Herald Mail-Media, Mike Lewis

More than $68.8 million has been allocated to community health centers in Maryland for COVID-19 vaccine distribution and expanded health care access.

The funds for 17 centers are in the American Rescue Plan, according to a news release from Maryland’s Democratic federal lawmakers. Congress passed the $1.9 trillion plan and President Joe Biden signed it on March 11. It is intended to accelerate the nation’s economic and health care recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,

According to the release, the American Rescue Plan funding includes $3 million for Tri-State Community Health Center in Hancock and more than $1.7 million for Walnut Street Community Health Center in Hagerstown.

The release was issued on behalf of U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Reps. Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone.

Trone represents Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, which includes Washington County.

“Help from the American Rescue Plan has arrived in Maryland to speed up COVID-19 vaccine distribution in underserved and hard-to-reach communities throughout our state,” the lawmakers said in the release. “This new infusion of federal funding will also help strengthen the capacity of CHCs to deliver critical health care services beyond this pandemic.”

The lawmakers also announced more than $23 million in separate funding so community health centers can further eliminate disparities and enhance services for expectant mothers and infants. No Washington County recipients were named on that list.