POST FALLS — The Idaho Mine Safety Program at the North Idaho College Workforce Training Center is celebrating a significant milestone as NIC marks a decade of dedicated mine safety training while also securing a $179,023 grant.
This funding, awarded through the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), will bolster safety education for the next year for Idaho’s new and experienced miners, operators, and contractors working in surface and underground mining. It is the 11th annual MSHA grant awarded to NIC since 2015, when the mine safety program was launched at the college.
“For 10 years, NIC has worked alongside Idaho’s mining industry to help workers build the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe on the job,” said Colby Mattila, NIC Executive Director of Workforce and Economic Development. “This continued investment supports miners, their families and the communities that depend on a strong mining workforce. We’re proud to provide training that serves such an important industry in our region.”
Over the last decade, 3,485 individuals from 113 different businesses and institutions have completed NIC’s mine safety courses. While training more than 500 individuals each year, NIC plays a vital role in promoting a culture of safety within Idaho's mining industry, which employs roughly 3,000 people.
The award is part of more than $10.5 million in grants announced Oct. 19 by the U.S. Department of Labor to support federally mandated mine safety and health training nationwide.
“These grants will promote safe and healthful workplaces for over 300,000 miners across 47 states, territories, and tribal lands,” said Wayne Palmer, assistant secretary for mine safety and health.
The Idaho Mine Safety Program at the NIC Workforce Training Center also supports broader industry efforts through Safety Fest of the Great Northwest events and its educational partnership with the Idaho Mining Advancement Project. NIC also provides mine safety instruction for students pursuing the University of Idaho’s Bachelor of Science in Geological Engineering, connecting academic preparation with workplace safety practices.
NIC’s program is funded 80% through federal grants ($179,032) and 20% from non-governmental sources ($44,758).
For more information about the Idaho Mine Safety Training Program at the NIC Workforce Training Center, visit nic.edu/minesafety or contact NIC MSHA Senior Administrative Assistant Allyson Zuk at (208) 625-2359 or allyson.zuk@nic.edu.
Return to Newsroom