Key Takeaways:
- OSHA’s Susan Harwood Training Grants offer $12.7 million for construction safety training, covering fall protection, heat illness, trenching and electrical safety.
- Two tracks are available: Targeted Topic Training (instructor-led sessions) and Training and Educational Materials Development (reusable curriculum and bilingual materials).
- Eligible applicants include nonprofits, labor unions, employer associations, tribal organizations and public colleges; small contractors can partner with qualifying organizations.
- Applications are due July 31, 2026, via Grants.gov; SAM registration and a Unique Entity ID are required, so start early.
$12.7 Million in OSHA Grants Target Construction Safety
The U.S. Department of Labor has opened applications for $12.7 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants, with a clear focus on small businesses and high-hazard industries like construction. Administered by OSHA, the grants fund instructor-led training and classroom-ready materials that help workers recognize hazards, avoid injuries, and understand their rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
For lean construction firms, this funding translates into real jobsite outcomes. Grants can cover hands-on courses in fall protection, heat illness prevention, trenching, excavation and electrical safety, as well as toolbox talks, bilingual handouts, videos and site-specific curriculum.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, labor unions, employer associations, joint labor-management groups, tribal organizations, public colleges and universities, OSHA On-Site Consultation programs and OSHA Training Institute Education Centers. Small contractors that don’t qualify on their own can partner with a local college or union training center to compete.
Which Grant Track Is Right for Your Organization?
Two tracks are available and choosing the right one matters. Targeted Topic Training funds instructor-led, in-person or remote sessions on OSHA-designated hazards, making it the right fit if your priority is getting crews trained now on high-risk topics like falls or heat. Training and Educational Materials Development funds ready-to-use content, including modules, videos and pamphlets that others can deploy repeatedly, making it the better choice if scalability and standardization are your gaps.
Match your project to the right track, describe how it addresses specific construction risks, and your proposal will align with OSHA’s stated goals.
How Do You Build a Competitive Application?
A strong proposal connects compliance to field practice and demonstrates measurable impact. Reviewers want to see the number of training sessions you’ll deliver, the languages offered, the specific hazards covered and the materials produced. Include a plan to measure outcomes, whether via pre- and post-assessments, supervisor observations or reductions in near misses.
Describe how the work continues after the grant period, through a train-the-trainer model, employer contributions or adoption within apprenticeship programs. Keep the budget realistic and tie every cost to a deliverable.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 31, 2026, through Grants.gov. You must also be registered in SAM. Both systems can take days to verify, so start early, confirm your Unique Entity ID and assign roles in Grants.gov well ahead of the deadline.
(Note: AI assisted in summarizing the key points for this story.)