Mine Health And Safety State Grants

The Mine Health and Safety State Grants program is administered by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), a division of the U.S. Department of Labor. This program is authorized under Section 503 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended, and is designed to support state, tribal, and territorial governments in strengthening mining safety and health systems. Through this initiative, MSHA provides funding to assist in the development, enforcement, and improvement of state mining laws, workers’ compensation programs, and occupational disease prevention efforts. The program emphasizes federal-state coordination to enhance safety outcomes across the nation’s mining industry. The primary purpose of this grant opportunity is to improve safety and health conditions in mines through targeted training, education, and regulatory support activities. MSHA strongly encourages applicants to prioritize training for new miners and small mining operations, as well as to address key risk areas such as powered haulage, mobile equipment safety, emergency preparedness, mine rescue, electrical hazards, and fall prevention. Additionally, the program supports initiatives that train supervisors and inexperienced workers, as well as programs addressing occupational health hazards affecting contract employees and other vulnerable populations within the mining workforce. A significant policy context influencing this funding opportunity is the federal government’s focus on increasing domestic mineral production, particularly critical minerals. Executive actions have emphasized expanding mining operations and reopening previously idled mines, which increases the need for workforce training and safety preparedness. Applicants are encouraged to align their proposals with these priorities by developing training and compliance programs that support the extraction of critical minerals, including coal, which has been designated as a critical material. This alignment is intended to ensure that workforce expansion in the mining sector is accompanied by strong safety and health protections. Funding under this program may be used for a range of allowable activities, including training programs, development of educational materials, outreach to mining operators and workers, compliance assistance, and certain equipment purchases related to safety training. Costs must be allowable, reasonable, and allocable under federal cost principles. Construction costs are not permitted. Applicants must provide a detailed budget narrative explaining how funds will be used and how administrative costs support program goals. The program also requires a cost-sharing component, with federal funding covering up to 80 percent of total program costs, and applicants responsible for at least 20 percent in matching funds. Eligible applicants include a wide range of public entities such as state governments, local governments, tribal governments, and public institutions of higher education. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes multiple components such as the SF-424 form, SF-424A budget form, a detailed project narrative, budget justification, abstract, and required certifications. Applicants must also maintain an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The project narrative must include a comprehensive action plan outlining training activities, organizational capacity, evaluation methods, and expected outcomes. Applications are due by August 10, 2026. The anticipated period of performance is 12 months, running from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, with potential for a no-cost extension of up to one year based on project success. MSHA evaluates applications based on alignment with program goals, quality of the proposed training plan, organizational capacity, and ability to measure outcomes. Grantees are required to submit quarterly financial and performance reports and a final report within 120 days of the project’s conclusion. For additional support, applicants may contact MSHA program officials directly via email or phone as provided in the announcement.

Align training programs with MSHA priority hazards; provide detailed action plan and measurable outcomes; ensure budget consistency across all forms