10,000 Michigan homes and businesses receiving critical high-speed internet connectivity through ROBIN grants

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) and the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI) celebrated investments that connected more than 10,000 homes and businesses to high-speed internet thanks to Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) funding. Providing access to affordable high-speed internet will benefit more Michiganders with online learning, healthcare and economic opportunities. MIHI is working to create a more digitally equitable Michigan where everyone can leverage technology to improve their quality of life. Connecting these 10,000 homes and businesses is a milestone in what will be a continuation of ROBIN funding bringing broadband connectivity across the state. The second and final round of ROBIN grants has been awarded and will expand the program to invest $238 million in grant funds and an additional $218 in private matching funds to bring high-speed internet access to more than 71,500 previously unserved locations throughout the state. The second round of ROBIN grant awards included $71,776,890.94 in grant funds awarded to 17 total projects from seven applicants who are providing another $86,380,646.20 in matching funds. These projects will connect 16,023 Michigan houses and businesses that don’t have access to high-speed internet. In total, the ROBIN program will provide $238 million in federal funding to support the deployment of high-speed internet throughout the state thanks to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund investment.