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US Department of Labor awards more than $10.5M in grants to support mine safety, health training across the nation

Supports delivery of federally mandated miner education in 46 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 programs such as safety and health courses. 

The agency is awarding the grants to support the delivery of federally mandated training and re-training for miners at surface and underground coal and metal and nonmetal mines, as well as miners engaged in shell dredging or employed at surface stone, sand and gravel mining operations. MSHA is awarding grants in 43 states and the Navajo Nation, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

“Training is a critical element in protecting the safety and health of our nation’s miners,” said Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Christopher J. Williamson. “Deficiencies in miner training continue to be a root cause of fatal accidents. These grants fund programs and training designed to reduce mining accidents, injuries and illnesses.”

States and territories apply for grant funding, which is administered by state mine inspectors’ offices, state departments of labor and state-supported colleges and universities. Recipients tailor their training programs to address their area’s mining conditions and hazards miners may encounter.

Learn more about MSHA.

The recipients of MSHA State Grants are as follows: 

Recipient City State/Territory Award
Bevill State Community College  Sumiton AL  $237,493
University of Alaska at Fairbanks Soldotna AK  $150,483 
Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing Little Rock  AR  $132,754 
Arizona State Mine Inspector’s Office Phoenix AZ  $426,502 
Navajo Nation Minerals Department Window Rock AZ  $36,112 
California Department of Industrial Relations San Bernardino CA  $120,000 
Colorado Department of Natural Resources Denver CO  $262,207 
Central Connecticut State University New Britain CT  $93,048 
Tallahassee Community College Havana FL  $195,297 
Technical College System of Georgia Sandersville GA  $217,888 
Guam Department of Public Health & Social Services Hagatna GU  $14,444 
Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport IA  $196,798 
North Idaho College Post Falls ID  $164,011 
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Springfield IL  $257,665 
Vincennes University Ft. Branch IN  $255,619 
Hutchinson Community College & Area Vocational School Hutchinson KS  $137,664 
Kentucky Energy & Environment Cabinet Frankfort KY  $357,679 
Northshore Technical Community College Greensburg LA  $114,225 
Maryland Center for Environmental Training  La Plata MD  $72,041 
Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards Boston MA  $106,937 
Maine Department of Labor Augusta ME  $117,104 
Michigan Technological University Houghton MI  $271,534 
Minnesota State Colleges & Universities St Paul MN  $401,078 
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Jackson MS  $28,778 
Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations Jefferson City MO  $289,315 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Saipan MP  $14,444 
Montana Department of Labor & Industry Helena MT  $215,678 
University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney NE  $94,479 
Nevada Division of Industrial Relations Carson City NV  $421,064 
New Hampshire Department of Business & Economic Affairs Concord NH  $83,104 
New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development Trenton NJ  $69,991 
New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology Socorro NM  $182,800 
New York Department of Labor Albany  NY  $345,816 
North Carolina Department of Labor Raleigh NC  $188,630 
North Dakota Department of Career & Technical Education Bismarck ND  $115,753
Ohio Department of Natural Resources  Columbus OH  $244,051 
Oklahoma Department of Mines Wilburton OK  $184,414 
Eastern Oregon University La Grande  OR  $174,956 
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection New Stanton PA  $590,454 
Tri-County Technical College Pendleton SC  $100,792 
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Rapid City SD  $100,237 
Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Caryville TN  $209,761 
University of Texas at Austin Austin TX  $726,741 
Utah State University Price UT  $267,579 
Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals & Energy Big Stone Gap VA $246,818 
Vermont Department of Labor Montpelier VT  $114,616 
Northcentral Technical College District Wausau WI  $364,830 
West Virginia Office of Miners Health Safety & Training Charleston WV  $516,841 
Gillette Community College District Gillette WY  $306,475 
Total     $10,537,000

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Media Contacts:

Frances Alonzo, 202-693-526, alonzo.frances@dol.gov 

Victoria Godinez, 202-693-4667, godinez.victoria.c@dol.gov 

Release Number:  23-2108-NAT