The U.S. Department of Labor announced on July 1, 2026 that $12.7 million is available through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. OSHA administers the funding, which supports training and education programs that help workers and employers identify and prevent workplace safety hazards.
What Do the Grants Fund?
The grants prioritize instructor-led training for small businesses and industries with high rates of injury, illness, and fatality. Training covers hazard awareness, hazard avoidance, and hazard controls. It also covers worker rights and employer responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Applicants can apply under two categories.
- Targeted Topic Training funds educational programs built around OSHA-designated hazard topics.
- Training and Educational Materials Development funds the creation of new classroom-ready training materials, which must be tested during an instructor-led session. This category caps individual awards at $95,000, covering a 12-month performance period that runs from September 30, 2026 to September 30, 2027.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Nonprofit organizations, including community-based and faith-based groups
- Employer associations
- Labor unions and joint labor-management associations
- Indian tribes
- Public or state colleges and universities
- Entities that operate OSHA On-Site Consultation programs
- OSHA Training Institute Education Centers
Organizations are limited to one grant award per fiscal year.
When Is the Deadline?
Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 31, 2026. Applicants must be registered with the System for Award Management before they can submit a proposal.
Why Is the Program Called the Susan Harwood Training Grant?
The program honors Dr. Susan Harwood, who spent 17 years at OSHA developing workplace safety standards for benzene, formaldehyde, bloodborne pathogens, and lead. She also wrote OSHA's cotton dust standard, which nearly eliminated byssinosis, a lung disease that had been common among textile workers.
Organizations building out safety training programs of their own can lean on training and competency management tools that track completion, flag renewals automatically, and keep proof of training ready before an inspector ever asks for it.
References: U.S. Department of Labor, news release | Federal Register, Susan Harwood Training Grant Program FY 2026 Funding Notice | OSHA, Susan Harwood Training Grant Program
Mehreen Iqbal
Started with a Bachelors in Microbiology, then a Masters in Public Health; Currently a Workplace Safety Expert.