On April 11, 2018, Minnesota released a final plan for the initial phase of deploying settlement funds, 2018-2019. Funds will be invested in communities across the state. In this first phase, MN will invest 25% of the overall funds ($11.75 million) through five grant programs as follows:

* School bus replacements: 20%
* Heavy-duty on-road vehicles - transit and trucks: 35%
* Heavy-duty off-road vehicles: 15%
* Heavy-duty electric vehicles: 15%
* Electric vehicle charging stations: 15%

Funding Opportunity: The Pollution Control Agency has announced that it plans to provide $1.1 million in grant funds to reduce emissions from older, diesel-powered off-road equipment. The funding is made available from Minnesota’s share of the national Volkswagen (VW) settlement and DERA. Grantees must provide a cash match for a percentage of the equipment cost, and an old diesel engine or vehicle must be destroyed. Eligible equipment may include marine engines, locomotives, trailer refrigeration units, terminal tractors, drayage trucks, off-road engines, and equipment or vehicles used in construction, handling of cargo, agriculture, mining, or energy production.