Thousands of underserved homes and businesses in Michigan are a step closer to connectivity after the state awarded more than $200 million in grants to a host of applicants representing dozens of projects.

In total, the states Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) grant program received over 150 applications from 40 applicants. An announcement from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office detailing the grant funds said the applications, which represented over $2 billion in proposed project costs, were reviewed and ranked before decisions were made

Whitmer, whose comments were included in the announcement, said the first round of ROBIN grant awards will connect over 70,000 households, businesses, and community institutions across Michigan.

“We know that a reliable connection is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for health care, education, employment, entertainment, and so much more,” she said.

Whitmer’s office said the ROBIN program will provide $238 million in federal funding to support the deployment of high-speed internet to more than 90,000 unserved locations throughout the state.

According to Whitmer’s office, $203 million in grant funds and are being awarded to 18 total projects from 9 applicants in the first round of funding, which was announced Oct. 26. The grant awards will accompany a total match investment of $202 million, according to Whitmer’s office.

Eric Frederick, Michigan’s chief connectivity officer, said ROBIN is the first piece of the puzzle in getting all Michigander’s connected.

“ROBIN is a critical part of Michigan’s broadband expansion plan to the state’s unserved areas and will provide internet service providers and public-private partnerships the funds to deploy broadband infrastructure,” he said.

Among the companies selected for grants in the first batch of Michigan’s ROBIN program were Great Lakes Energy and Midwest Energy, two electric companies. A full list of companies selected for ROBIN program grants is available on the state’s website.

With the first round of projects selected, the state now sets its sights on the second batch of proposals that will be subject to objection or comment in the near future, according to the state’s website for the ROBIN program.

The Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI), which joined the governor in awarding the grants, also recently released a draft of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program’s initial proposal, detailing how the state will operate the BEAD challenge process, according to announcement from the governor’s office.

Additional information about the ROBIN grant awards, the second round of ROBIN projects or the public comment period of the initial BEAD proposal is available here, at MIHI’s website.