Two local hospitals have received more than $1 million in Emergency Rural Health Care Grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The USDA released the initial awards of the program, totaling $43 million and benefitting 2.2 million people, in April. The program was created under the American Rescue Plan Act to expand rural hospitals and providers’ access to COVID-19 vaccines, testing and supplies, as well as helping rural health care providers stay financially solvent in the long-term.

Locally, the Pocahontas and Belmond community hospitals were awarded the grant.

The city of Pocahontas received $344,200 for the Pocahontas Community Hospital.

The grant money will be used to help with costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, PCH Chief Executive Officer James Roetman said. That includes increasing surge capacity and adding negative-pressure rooms to be able to care for patients who need to be isolated, similar to what was needed during the peaks of the pandemic.

“These are some of the things that we’ve recognized over the last 18 months to two years that we’ve needed to improve here,” Roetman said. “I think it’s going to really be putting us in a better position to meet the needs of patients in the future.”

Belmond Community Hospital received $984,600. According to the release from the USDA, the grant will be used to increase capacity for vaccine distribution by providing cold storage, transportation and vehicle support. It will also purchase medical supplies, laboratory equipment and personal protective equipment to increase medical surge capacity. The hospital’s telehealth capabilities will also be increased with the purchase of equipment and software.

A phone call to Iowa Specialty Hospital, which runs Belmond Community Hospital, was not returned.

“USDA used an all-hands-on-deck approach to create the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants program to address a variety of immediate health care needs and services in rural communities,” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “The American Rescue Plan Act and this program are examples of the government’s ability to respond quickly to ensure every person and family has access to high-quality health care no matter their zip code.”