ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland officials are announcing Maryland’s first five health enterprise zones.

Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary Joshua Sharfstein made the announcement Thursday in Annapolis.

The four-year pilot program has a budget of $4 million a year. It creates incentives, benefits and grants to expand health care in Annapolis, Capitol Heights, Lexington Park, West Baltimore, and Dorchester and Caroline counties.

The plans would create a total of 84 new health care jobs, including positions for at least 25 physicians or nurse practitioners.

The goal of health enterprise zones is to enhance health services and reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities or in underserved communities.

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