ATMC has received a $1 million state grant to extend high-speed internet to 750 residents in the Beaverdam area, the utility announced Wednesday.

The funds are from the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) program, which provides grants to internet service providers and electric membership cooperatives to expand high-speed internet service in the state’s 40 most economically distressed counties.

Twenty-one applicants in 19 counties will receive a total of nearly $10 million in GREAT Grant funding, Gov. Roy Cooper’s office announced.

“Access to reliable, high-speed internet service is critical for businesses to grow, students to learn, and communities to thrive,” Cooper said. “These grants will help connect thousands of homes and businesses with opportunities across the state and around the world.”

Grant applicants are scored based on the number of households, businesses and agricultural operations they propose to serve, the average cost to serve those households and the speeds offered. Applicants receive higher awards for agreeing to provide higher speed service, defined as a minimum of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload.