PARIS – Community Concepts Inc. of South Paris is one of five nonprofit social agencies awarded more than $7.5 million from the federal government for Head Start programs, it was announced Wednesday.

The $7,543,906, which comes through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will help fund child care and handicapped services.

The Head Start funding was allocated as follows:

• $1,893,906 for Community Concepts Inc.

• $1,760,000 for the Penquis Community Action Program in Bangor.

• $1,460,000 for the Peoples Regional Opportunity Program in Portland.

• $1,230,000 for the Southern Kennebec Child Development Corp. in Augusta.

• $1,200,000 for the Aroostook County Action Program in Presque Isle.

Deb Florenz, Community Concepts’ Head Start coordinator, said the funds are part of the regular ongoing Head Start funding that covers annual operating expenses. Community Concepts runs regular Head Start programs in Oxford County in the towns of Paris, Norway, Oxford, West Bethel, Fryeburg and Rumford, and runs Early Head Start programs in Sumner and Porter.

Community Concepts also runs Head Start programs in the Franklin County towns of Farmington, Jay, Avon, Stratton and Weld.

Head Start was begun as a federally sponsored preschool program in 1964 and helps increase the school readiness of young children in low-income families. The program has served more than 18 million children throughout the country since its inception.