WASHINGTON (CBS19 NEW) -- Millions of dollars are coming to Virginia to help strengthen the public health workforce and infrastructure across the Commonwealth.

Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner announced on Wednesday that Virginia is getting more than $74.4 million in federal funding.

According to a release, this funding, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was made possible by the American Rescue Plan.

In the wake of the issues highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic when it comes to the public health system, there has been a focus on providing effective public health prevention and response, which needs accurate and timely data reporting.

And for that to work, there has to be a robust workforce supporting the effort.

“Our state and local public health workers serve on the frontlines helping to promote and protect the health and well-being of communities across the Commonwealth,” said the senators. “We’re glad this funding is headed to Virginia to ensure that we have the workforce, services, and systems needed to improve preparedness and respond to emerging public health threats.”

The Virginia Department of Health is getting more than $68.4 million of the funding while the rest is going to the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health.

The release says about 40 percent of the money VDH is getting will then be distributed to local health departments.

Over five years, it will be used to recruit, hire, train and retain public health staff such as community health workers, epidemiologists, contact tracers, laboratory scientist and data analyst to reduce workforce shortages in the public health network.

It will also go toward building foundational capabilities through strengthening community partnerships that aims to enhance communication and policy development as well as increasing availability of public health data through improved infrastructure and interoperability.