Mine Health And Safety State Grants

The U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has announced the availability of funding for the Mine Health and Safety State Grants Program under Section 503 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. This competitive program supports state, tribal, and territorial governments, including the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, in improving mine safety and health through training, education, and enforcement coordination. The program aims to strengthen state mining laws and programs, enhance workers’ compensation and occupational disease prevention, and improve the safety and health conditions in the nation’s mines through federal-state partnerships. The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to eligible governmental entities to develop and deliver training on critical mine safety topics. These include mine emergency preparedness, mine rescue, electrical safety, truck driver safety, pillar safety for underground mines, prevention of falls from heights, and enhanced training for new or inexperienced miners, managers, and supervisors. MSHA is placing strong emphasis on incorporating the newly issued federal rules for reducing exposure to respirable crystalline silica, improving respiratory protection, and enhancing safety for surface mobile equipment. Training should also address miners’ statutory rights, such as the right to a safe working environment and to refuse unsafe tasks. The total funding available for FY 2025 is approximately $10,537,000, to be distributed among about 56 awards. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, with the possibility of a no-cost extension of up to one year based on performance. MSHA may fund up to 80 percent of approved program costs; applicants must provide at least a 20 percent match, preferably in cash. Allowable costs include personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual services, and other program-related expenses. Construction costs are not allowed. Program income may be retained and used for allowable grant purposes and may count toward the match requirement. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov using the SF-424 and SF-424A forms, along with a detailed budget narrative, a project narrative (action plan), an abstract summarizing the proposed project, a certification of lobbying activities (SF-LLL), and accounting system certification for new applicants. The project narrative must identify the mine safety and health issues being addressed, outline the training plan, describe outreach and evaluation strategies, and include performance measurement methods. If creating educational materials, grantees must allow MSHA to review them for accuracy before publication and must provide materials in accessible formats. The application deadline is September 9, 2025. Applications open immediately and must be received by Grants.gov before the deadline. The process requires applicants to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and maintain active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). MSHA will post modifications to the Funding Opportunity Announcement on Grants.gov and will provide answers to applicant questions through the platform. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and other Native American tribal organizations. Under the program, the Governor must designate who will apply on behalf of the state. MSHA encourages innovative approaches that address emerging needs in the mining sector, including training for operations involving critical minerals, as defined by the Department of Energy and the U.S. Geological Survey. For more information, applicants can contact Elif Evrim Polat, Grants Management Specialist, at (202) 693-9570 or Polat.Elif.E@dol.gov, or Ursula A. Frazier, Management Officer, at (202) 693-9883 or Frazier.Ursula@dol.gov. Grant administration questions may be directed to Shundreka R. Mims-Randolph, Grant Officer, at (202) 693-9358 or Mimsrandolph.Shundreka.R@dol.gov.

Ensure UEI and SAM registration are active; match funding requirements are met; budget request is consistent across forms; educational materials comply with copyright and are submitted in accessible formats