Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ), with EPA DERA funds
Go RED! (Reduce Emissions from Diesels), including school buses
State money to replace or clean up an old diesel school bus. Private schools can apply if they own the bus; DEQ pays back part of the cost after the work is done.
- Amount
- Pays back up to 25% to 100% of eligible costs, depending on the project; usually capped at $200,000 per applicant ($500,000 for zero-emission replacements)
- Can a for-profit school apply?
- Yes, a for-profit school can apply
- Deadline
- Closed
- Who this fits
- Private school · MicroschoolOnly for a school that owns a diesel bus (Type A to D) it has run in Arkansas for the past two years. DEQ's grants page names public and private schools for the school edition, and the guide's private entities include corporations, so a for-profit school fits.Religious schools: not stated, ask the funder
- New schools
- Not stated for new schools
- Where
- Arkansas only
- Last checked
- Oct 8, 2026on adeq.state.ar.us
Unconfirmed: check with the funder
We couldn’t confirm these on an official page. Treat them as open questions, not facts.
- Whether the 2026 round is still taking applications (the Go RED! page says closed; the grants page and July 2026 guide say monthly deadlines run to November 30, 2026)
- Whether the 2026 dates apply to the school edition (the grants page lists them under general Go RED!)
What to do now
- Step 1: Call Tanisha Harper at DEQ (501-683-2226) to confirm 2026 funds remain
- Step 2: Gather the bus's make, model, year, VIN, engine model year and mileage, and proof it has run in Arkansas for two years
- Step 3: Get a quote for the replacement bus or retrofit
- Step 4: Apply online by the last day of the month (final round November 30, 2026)
- Step 5: Sign the agreement before buying anything, then scrap the old bus and submit receipts to be paid back
Funders change their requirements. Check the official page before you apply. Getting ready? See what funders usually ask for.
Who can apply
“Any public, private, or nonprofit entity that meets the following criteria is eligible to apply for funding assistance under the Go RED! program”
DEQ's grants page lists the school edition as open to “Public and private schools”. The guide defines a private entity as any non-government entity, including a corporation. You must be registered with the Arkansas Secretary of State, own the bus, and have run it in Arkansas for the past two years, at least 7,000 miles a year. Replacing a bus with a new EPA-certified diesel bus pays back at most 25% (you cover at least 75%); some retrofits can be paid up to 100%. Engine-year rules apply (an EPA-certified diesel replacement is only for engines from 2009 or older). A replaced bus or engine must be scrapped. You are paid back after the project is done.
- Own a diesel school bus (Type A to D) that has run in Arkansas for the past two years, at least 7,000 miles a year
- At least three years of remaining life, and the new or upgraded bus stays in Arkansas for five years
- Registered with the Arkansas Secretary of State
- Cost share: at least 75% for a new EPA-certified bus; less for zero-emission or retrofits
- A replaced bus or engine must be scrapped
- Reimbursement after the project, which must start after the agreement is signed
Timing
Unclear right now. DEQ's grants page and its July 2026 guide list monthly deadlines (last day of each month) until the money runs out or November 30, 2026, but the Go RED! page itself says the application period has closed. Call DEQ before you apply. Past rounds ran in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2026.