MSHA - Mine Safety and Health Administration
10/19/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/19/2026 05:40
US Department of Labor awards more than $10.5M in grants to support mine safety, health training across the nation
MSHA News Release October 16, 2026
Supports delivery of federally mandated miner training in 45 states, territories
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine Safety and Health Administration has awarded more than $10.5 million in grants to reduce mining accidents, injuries, and illnesses by supporting training and education programs.
The agency is awarding these grants to support the delivery of federally mandated training for new and experienced miners at surface and underground coal and metal and nonmetal mines. MSHA is awarding grants in 45 states, the Navajo Nation, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
"Thanks to President Trump's leadership we're investing billions of dollars into critical mining projects and resources for mining education," said Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. "Today's grant announcement furthers the Department's goal to expand mining across the United States to support this Administration's goals to provide critical resources to the workers industries that continue to expand in America."
States and territories apply for grant funding, which is then awarded to state mine inspectors' offices, state departments of labor, and state-supported colleges and universities. Training and education programs are tailored locally to address conditions and hazards miners may experience.
"A strong and thriving America relies on a mining industry that safely produces the minerals essential to our economy," said Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Wayne Palmer. "These grants will promote safe and healthful workplaces for over 300,000 miners across 47 states, territories, and tribal lands."
The recipients of MSHA State Grants are as follows:
Recipients of MSHA State Grants| Recipient | City | State/Territory | Award |
| Bevill State Community College | Jasper | AL | $243,711 |
| University of Alaska at Fairbanks | Fairbanks | AK | $160,886 |
| Arizona State Mine Inspector's Office | Phoenix | AZ | $453,633 |
| Navajo Nation Minerals Department | Window Rock | AZ | $46,430 |
| Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing | Little Rock | AR | $138,903 |
| Central Connecticut State University | New Britain | CT | $98,156 |
| Colorado Department of Natural Resources | Denver | CO | $260,394 |
| South Florida State College | Avon Park | FL | $208,063 |
| Technical College System of Georgia | Sandersville | GA | $222,128 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport | IA | $194,261 |
| North Idaho College | Post Falls | ID | $179,032 |
| Illinois Department of Natural Resources | Springfield | IL | $246,170 |
| Vincennes University | Vincennes | IN | $246,043 |
| Hutchinson Community College & Area Vocational School | Hutchinson | KS | $142,296 |
| Kentucky Energy & Environment Cabinet | Frankfort | KY | $329,252 |
| Northshore Technical Community College | Lacombe | LA | $114,804 |
| Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards | Boston | MA | $101,775 |
| Maryland Center for Environmental Training | La Plata | MD | $73,552 |
| Maine Department of Labor | Augusta | ME | $150,000 |
| Michigan Technological University | Houghton | MI | $291,259 |
| Minnesota State Colleges & Universities | St Paul | MN | $407,985 |
| Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations | Jefferson City | MO | $295,873 |
| Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands | Saipan | MP | $18,571 |
| Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality | Jackson | MS | $23,339 |
| Montana Department of Labor & Industry | Helena | MT | $214,047 |
| University of Nebraska at Kearney | Kearney | NE | $91,848 |
| New Hampshire Department of Business & Economic Affairs | Concord | NH | $83,000 |
| New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development | Trenton | NJ | $73,916 |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology | Socorro | NM | $172,394 |
| Nevada Division of Industrial Relations | Carson City | NV | $428,400 |
| New York Department of Labor | Albany | NY | $342,108 |
| North Carolina Department of Labor | Raleigh | NC | $190,026 |
| North Dakota Department of Career & Technical Education | Bismarck | ND | $116,536 |
| Ohio Department of Natural Resources | Columbus | OH | $234,834 |
| Oklahoma Department of Mines | Wilburton | OK | $185,332 |
| Eastern Oregon University | La Grande | OR | $179,236 |
| Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection | Harrisburg | PA | $563,901 |
| Tri-County Technical College | Pendleton | SC | $110,699 |
| South Dakota School of Mines & Technology | Rapid City | SD | $107,296 |
| Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development | Nashville | TN | $229,744 |
| University of Texas at Austin | Austin | TX | $742,414 |
| Utah State University | Logan | UT | $285,531 |
| Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals & Energy | Big Stone Gap | VA | $238,875 |
| Vermont Department of Labor | Montpelier | VT | $114,509 |
| Northcentral Technical College District | Wausau | WI | $356,941 |
| West Virginia Office of Miners Health Safety & Training | Charleston | WV | $529,576 |
| Gillette Community College District | Gillette | WY | $299,322 |
| Total | $10,537,000 |
# # #
Media Contact
Lorynn Holloway, 202-693-4652, [email protected]
Kristen Knebel, 202-693-3435, [email protected]
Release Number: 26-1554-NAT
MSHA - Mine Safety and Health Administration published this content on October 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 19, 2026 at 11:40 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]