Grant Programs Improving Air Quality

The Office of Air Quality (OAQ) has created an interactive overview of diesel emission reduction grants administered by the OAQ using Story Maps. The Story Map includes a description of each grant program and highlights successful projects completed with funding assistance from these programs.

Click on the image below to view the Story Map.

The Go RED! (Reduce Emissions from Diesels) Program

What is it? This program provides funding to reduce emissions from medium and heavy duty diesel vehicles using a variety of equipment.

Eligibility: public, private, and non-profit entities

Application Period: DEQ 2023 Go RED program will open for application submittals on January 1, 2024. For this program, DEQ has established a monthly rolling deadline for application submissions until all funds are awarded. The first deadline is January 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST). Subsequent deadlines occur on 11:59 p.m. CST on the last day of each month until available funds are awarded. Information on projects funded, including the number of awards, monetary amounts, and technologies funded, will be made public on the DEQ website within 60 days of award.

More Information: Please see the Go RED! webpage

Program Contact: Katrina Jones, (501) 683-6267

Volkswagen Settlement Programs

The Clean Fuels Program

What is it? The Clean Fuels Funding Assistance Program (“Clean Fuels program”) is a competitive funding opportunity to repower or replace eligible medium trucks, heavy trucks, or buses with new lower-emitting alternative-fueled technologies. The goal of the Clean Fuels program is to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from across the state and spur markets for alternative fuels. No more than $400,000 will be awarded to any one entity during the program cycle.

Eligibility: public, private, and non-profit entities

Application Period: Applications were accepted between November 1, 2022 and March 15, 2023

Program Contact: Katrina Jones 501-683-6267

The Advanced Bus and Clean (ABC) Transportation Program

What is it? The ABC Transportation Program is a competitive funding assistance program, funded by the Volkswagen Settlement fund, to replace diesel-fueled school or transit buses with alternative-fueled or all-electric equivalent vehicles. The goal of the ABC transportation program is to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from Arkansas fleets and to encourage the development of alternative fuels infrastructure within the state.

Eligible Entities: Public school districts or transit authorities

Application Deadline: October 31, 2022

Program Contacts: Katrina Jones, (501) 683-6267

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Program –

This is a funding assistance program for the installation of new EV charging stations.

Program Contact: Jason Willey, (501) 682-0962

Some of these programs are funded under the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust as stated in the Arkansas Amended Beneficiary Mitigation Plan . More information can be found on the VW Settlement webpage.

You may find information on Arkansas Energy Office Programs here. Many Arkansas Energy Office Programs increase energy efficiency and therefore reduce emissions of certain pollutants.