November 26, 2025 - The Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) awarded more than $10.5 million in grants to organizations in 45 states, the Navajo Nation and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, with the aim of reducing mining accidents, injuries and illnesses.

According to MSHA, the grants support the delivery of federally mandated training and retraining for miners at surface, underground coal and metal/nonmetal mines, as well as miners employed in shell dredging or surface stone, sand and gravel mining operations.

“Restoring America’s global economic dominance starts with our hardworking miners, and it’s the Labor Department’s responsibility to help them accomplish this mission by keeping them safe on the job,” says Lori Chavez-DeRemer, secretary of labor. “The Trump administration will continue doing everything we can to protect blue-collar workers and ensure they have the resources they need to thrive.”

MSHA state grants are awarded in response to applications by states and territories. Funds are provided to state departments and agencies, as well as to state-supported universities and colleges. The agency says programs are tailored locally to address conditions and hazards miners in various areas may encounter.

This year’s grant recipients, by state, are as follows:

• Alabama: Bevill State Community College ($244,134)

• Alaska: University of Alaska at Fairbanks ($161,078)

• Arizona: Arizona State Mine Inspector’s Office ($445,545) and Navajo Nation Minerals Department ($46,430)

• Arkansas: Arkansas Department of Labor & Licensing ($140,461)

• Colorado: Colorado Department of Natural Resources ($265,048)

• Connecticut: Central Connecticut State University ($101,157)

• Florida: Tallahassee Community College ($208,973)

• Georgia: Technical College System of Georgia ($225,981)

• Idaho: North Idaho College ($177,439)

• Illinois: Illinois Department of Natural Resources ($251,087)

• Indiana: Vincennes University ($155,405)

• Iowa: Eastern Iowa Community College District ($201,921)

• Kansas: Hutchinson Community College & Area Vocational School ($144,551)

• Kentucky: Kentucky Energy & Environment Cabinet ($338,819)

• Louisiana: Northshore Technical Community College ($118,418)

• Maine: Maine Department of Labor ($117,104)

• Maryland: Maryland Center for Environmental Training ($76,377)

• Massachusetts: Massachusetts Department of Labor ($105,031)

• Michigan: Michigan Technological University ($291,052)

• Minnesota: Minnesota State Colleges & Universities ($407,358)

• Mississippi: Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality ($28,778)

• Missouri: Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations ($299,163)

• Montana: Montana Department of Labor & Industry ($221,609)

• Nebraska: University of Nebraska at Kearney ($95,511)

• New Hampshire: New Hampshire Department of Business & Economic Affairs ($83,257)

• New Jersey: New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development ($75,974)

• New Mexico: New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology ($176,242)

• New York: New York Department of Labor ($347,221)

• Nevada: Nevada Division of Industrial Relations ($432,949)

• North Carolina: North Carolina Department of Labor ($193,169)

• North Dakota: North Dakota Department of Career & Technical Education ($120,257)

• Ohio: Ohio Department of Natural Resources ($241,834)

• Oklahoma: Oklahoma Department of Mines ($187,963)

• Oregon: Eastern Oregon University ($182,743)

• Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection ($578,386)

• South Carolina: Tri-County Technical College ($111,787)

• South Dakota: South Dakota School of Mines & Technology ($109,756)

• Tennessee: Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development ($225,633)

• Texas: University of Texas at Austin ($740,282)

• Utah: Utah State University ($284,615)

• Vermont: Vermont Department of Labor ($117,633)

• Virginia: Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals & Energy ($241,775)

• West Virginia: West Virginia Office of Miners Health, Safety & Training ($530,429)

• Wisconsin: Northcentral Technical College District ($361,650)

• Wyoming: Gillette Community College District ($306,445)

MSHA also awarded an $18,571 grant to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

“We are committed to working collaboratively with both mine operators and miners to provide secure working environments,” says Keith Sonderling, deputy secretary of labor. “By investing more than $10 million to promote safety, we will ensure every miner returns home to their families after their shifts.”