MIOSHA Announces $500,000 in Grant Funding Available to Michigan Small Businesses for Enhanced Worker Protections

LANSING, Mich. — Small businesses in Michigan with 250 employees or fewer can now apply for a Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) matching grant up to $5,000 to purchase equipment and associated training they need to improve the safety and health of their employees.    

The MIOSHA Workplace Improvement to Safety and Health (MIWISH) grant program offers a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $5,000, for qualifying employers to purchase safety and health-related equipment.

“Small businesses often know exactly what safety improvements they need, but the cost of new equipment can be a barrier,” said MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman. “MIWISH grants help employers turn those needs into action by making critical safety investments more affordable and helping protect workers from serious injuries and illnesses.”

During fiscal year 2025-26, MIOSHA awarded $500,000 in matching grants to 129 employers, with construction representing the largest share of recipients.

Many grants helped employers purchase personal protective equipment, including safety helmets, high-visibility apparel, gloves, safety glasses and fall protection harnesses. PPE serves as a critical last line of defense when workplace hazards cannot be eliminated or adequately controlled through other methods.

Among last year’s recipients, Sobie Company received funding to purchase Type II safety helmets and full-body harnesses. The equipment provides workers with additional protection from workplace hazards while helping the company strengthen its overall approach to worker safety.

 
Sobie Company employees wear Type II safety helmets purchased with support from a MIWISH grant while working at a construction site.

"Safety is a priority for us, and the MIWISH grant helped us make an investment that directly supports our employees," said Zachariah Tozer, safety director at Sobie Company. "This funding allowed us to upgrade our team's head protection and replace our fall protection harnesses, ensuring our field crews have the highest standard of protection on every jobsite."

The new grant cycle began Oct. 1, and grants will be awarded until funds are exhausted. MIOSHA encourages new applicants to take advantage of this program, with preference given to employers in high-hazard industries identified in MIOSHA’s Strategic Plan and to projects tied to State and National Emphasis Programs. These include industries and hazards such as amputations, cannabis, heat-related illness, trenching and excavation, among others. 

Eligibility Requirements for Employers:

• Have 250 employees or less, companywide.
• Come under the jurisdiction of MIOSHA. 
• Conduct a site-specific evaluation justifying the equipment purchase.
• Relate the project directly to improvements that will lead to a reduction in the risk of injury or disease to employees. 
• Have the knowledge and experience to complete the project and be committed to its implementation

For more information about the MIWISH grant program and how to apply, visit Michigan.gov/MIOSHAGrants or contact MIOSHA’s grant administrator at 517-647-3155.

About MIOSHA

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration is part of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. MIOSHA’s mission is to help protect the safety and health of Michigan workers through enforcement, consultation, education and training.