U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded grants totaling just over $3 million for health initiatives throughout Maine.

The funds are allocated as follows, according to a joint release from the Senators:

•$350,000 to Catholic Charities Maine in Portland -- As part of its Recently Arrived Refugees program, the Department of Health and Human Services allocated these funds to help Maine accommodate the unanticipated arrival of refugees.

•$157,896 to the Maine Department of Human Services -- These Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program funds will be used to develop small, underfunded hospitals in rural Maine.

•$236,367 to the Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital in Greenville -- These funds will be used to improve the healthcare facilities and other maintenance operations at Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital.

•$73,065 to the Blue Hill Memorial Hospital in Blue Hill -- These funds will be used for small healthcare provider quality improvement.

•$75,000 to the Bucksport Regional Health Center in Bucksport -- This grant will be used for small healthcare provider quality improvement.

•$75,000 to the Regional Medical Center at Lubec, Inc. -- This grant will be used to improve the healthcare services in Lubec.

•$2.1 million to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services -- As part of its Hospital Preparedness Program, the Department of Health and Human Services allocated these funds to help the Maine Department of Human Services develop its emergency preparedness strategy and disaster response program.

•$90,000 to the Maine Migrant Programs, Inc. -- These funds will be used to develop a health center cluster.