U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, announced a $100,000 grant Friday to improve health and well-being in rural communities in Franklin County.

The grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was awarded to the Healthy Community Coalition of Greater Franklin County, the senators said in a news release.

“Rural Maine’s health care networks are a lifeline that keep our citizens healthy, boost local economies, and help ensure that Maine communities can thrive,” Collins and King said in a joint statement. “We welcome these funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, which will enhance the level of care available to the people of Franklin County.”

Jill Gray, a spokeswoman for the Franklin Community Health Network, which includes the Healthy Community Coalition, or HCC, said details of what the money will be used for were not available Friday.

According to the release from King and Collins, the grant is being administered through the Department of Health and Human Services’ Rural Health Network Planning Grant Program, which promotes the planning and development of health care networks in order to strengthen rural health care systems as a whole.

The main HCC facility is located in Farmington, and community outreach efforts are accessible to every surrounding town in Franklin County.

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“With the help of these funds, the organization will be able to expand its efforts to serve the rural region,” the release said.

Rachel Ohm — 612-2368

rohm@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @rachel_ohm


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