Occupational Safety and Health Grant Program

The Occupational Safety and Health Grant Program is administered by Oregon Occupational Safety and Health, a division of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. Established by the Oregon Legislature in 1990, the program is designed to advance workplace safety and health through the development of innovative education and training initiatives. The program operates in partnership with the Safe Employment Education and Training Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from business, labor, and government, and plays a key role in reviewing and recommending grant awards. The primary purpose of the grant program is to support the creation and expansion of occupational safety and health training programs that are innovative, proactive, and aligned with Oregon OSHA’s broader mission. Projects funded through this program are expected to improve workplace safety outcomes by addressing identified hazards, increasing participation in training among employers and workers, and encouraging collaboration between management and labor. The program prioritizes initiatives that introduce new approaches or significantly expand existing training efforts, rather than supporting ongoing or routine activities. Funding is provided on a competitive basis, with individual awards not exceeding 40000 dollars per project. The program offers funding during each biennium for a limited number of projects, depending on available resources. Grant funds may be used for activities such as program development, training delivery, personnel, materials, and limited equipment and operational costs, subject to specific expenditure caps. However, funds cannot be used for profit generating activities, lobbying, or payment of lost time wages. All materials developed with grant funds become public property and must be made available for broader use in Oregon. Eligible applicants include labor consortia, employer consortia, educational institutions affiliated with labor or employer groups, and other nonprofit entities. Applicants must demonstrate organizational capacity, including a designated project director, internal accounting systems, and the ability to comply with reporting and audit requirements. Applications must include detailed components such as a project summary, impact statement, project design, timeline, management plan, and budget documentation. The application process requires submission of multiple standardized forms and supporting materials, and incomplete or late submissions are not considered. Applications are reviewed first by the Division for completeness and alignment with program goals, and then evaluated by the advisory committee using a structured scoring system totaling 100 points. Evaluation criteria include the strength of the impact statement, project design, management approach, resource allocation, and evidence of collaboration. Applicants may be invited to present their proposals to the committee prior to final decisions. Final award determinations are made by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. The application period opens annually, with the 2026 cycle accepting submissions until October 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM. Following submission, applications undergo review and potential presentation in November, with awards issued thereafter. Funded projects are subject to quarterly reporting requirements, including progress updates, financial documentation, and evaluation data. Upon completion, grantees must submit the full training program developed. Questions and application support are provided through the program coordinator, Theodore Bunch, who serves as the primary point of contact for applicants throughout the process.

Focus on demonstrating innovation and clear impact on workplace safety; align project design with OSHA goals; show strong collaboration between labor and management; ensure budget and timeline are realistic and compliant