Texas will receive $414,095 from the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to help improve safety training for workers of the state's mining industry.

Texas' allocation is part of the federal agency's distribution of more than $8.2 million in health and safety training grants for fiscal year 2008. This is up from last year's allocation of $7.9 million.

"These grants are part of MSHA's ongoing commitment to advance miner safety and health through funding training programs," says Richard E. Stickler, acting assisting secretary of labor for mine safety and health.

"The mining community as a whole will benefit from enhanced skills and competency levels of our nation's miners," he adds.

The funds will cover training and retraining of miners working at surface and underground coal and metal and nonmetal mines, including individuals working in surface stone, sand and gravel mining operations.