WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine Safety and Health Administration has awarded more than $10.5 million in grants to organizations in 45 states, the Navajo Nation and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to reduce mining accidents, injuries and illnesses by supporting programs such as safety and health courses.MSHA grants will support the delivery of federally mandated training and re-training for miners at surface, underground coal and metal and nonmetal mines, and miners employed in shell dredging or surface stone, sand and gravel-mining operations.“Training is crucial to ensuring the protection of miners’ safety and health and the grants awarded today will support these essential training programs,” said Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson. “Every miner deserves to end their shift safe and healthy, and quality educational programs will go a long way toward reducing mining accidents, injuries and illnesses.”MSHA state grants are awarded in response to applications by states and territories. Funds are provided to state departments and agencies, and to state-supported universities and colleges. Programs are tailored locally to address conditions and hazards miners in various areas may encounter.Learn more about MSHA.MSHA State Grants have been awarded to the following organizations: RecipientCityState/TerritoryAwardBevill State Community College SumitonAL $248,182University of Alaska at FairbanksSoldotnaAK $155,796Arizona State Mine Inspector’s OfficePhoenixAZ $435,231Navajo Nation Minerals DepartmentWindow RockAZ $46,430Arkansas Department of Labor and LicensingLittle Rock AR $138,082Colorado Department of Natural ResourcesDenverCO $266,239Central Connecticut State UniversityNew BritainCT $99,523Tallahassee Community CollegeHavanaFL $203,956Technical College System of GeorgiaSandersvilleGA $224,367North Idaho CollegePost FallsID $171,417Illinois Department of Natural ResourcesSpringfieldIL $256,373Vincennes UniversityFt. BranchIN $255,405Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDavenportIA $201,298 Hutchinson Community College & Area Vocational SchoolHutchinsonKS $142,622Kentucky Energy & Environment CabinetFrankfortKY $352,144Northshore Technical Community CollegeGreensburgLA $118,547Maine Department of LaborAugustaME $117,104Maryland Center for Environmental Training La PlataMD $74,841Massachusetts Department of Labor StandardsBostonMA $111,862Michigan Technological UniversityHoughtonMI $283,429Minnesota State Colleges & UniversitiesSt PaulMN $405,690Mississippi Department of Environmental QualityJacksonMS $28,778 Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial RelationsJefferson CityMO $296,502Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana IslandsSaipanMP $18,571Montana Department of Labor & IndustryHelenaMT $220,653 University of Nebraska at KearneyKearneyNE $96,774New Hampshire Department of Business & Economic AffairsConcordNH $83,000Nevada Division of Industrial RelationsCarson CityNV $427,331New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce DevelopmentTrentonNJ $74,636New Mexico Institute of Mining & TechnologySocorroNM $180,793New York Department of LaborAlbany NY $347,407North Carolina Department of LaborRaleighNC $191,862North Dakota Department of Career & Technical EducationBismarckND $118,661Ohio Department of Natural Resources ColumbusOH $244,276Oklahoma Department of MinesWilburtonOK $187,861Eastern Oregon UniversityLa Grande OR $179,731Pennsylvania Department of Environmental ProtectionNew StantonPA $587,556Tri-County Technical CollegePendletonSC $107,778South Dakota School of Mines & TechnologyRapid CitySD $106,316Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce DevelopmentCaryvilleTN $220,206University of Texas at AustinAustinTX $736,187Utah State UniversityPriceUT $277,557Vermont Department of LaborMontpelierVT $117,809Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals & EnergyBig Stone GapVA$246,837West Virginia Office of Miners Health Safety & TrainingCharlestonWV $524,103Northcentral Technical College DistrictWausauWI $300,000Gillette Community College DistrictGilletteWY $307,278Total $10,537,000