Grant recipients will use the funds to provide miners with federally mandated training. The awards cover training and retraining of miners working at surface and underground coal and metal and nonmetal mines, including miners engaged in shell dredging or employed at surface stone, sand and gravel mining operations.

MSHA awarded these fiscal year 2016 grants based on applications from states and other eligible entities. State mine inspectors’ offices, state departments of labor, and state-supported colleges and universities administer the grants.

Each recipient tailors its program to the needs of its mines and miners – including mining conditions and hazards miners may encounter – and provides technical assistance.

Assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health Joe Main said: “This funding will enable educational, governmental and industry organizations across the country to develop training resources and train miners in an effort to ensure they return home – safe and healthy – after every shift.”