State, local, regional and tribal governments can apply for the grants, as well as non-profits and institutions with transportation, educational services and air quality responsibilities. The grants are targeting school or transit buses, medium and heavy-duty trucks, marine engines, locomotives and nonroad engines. Grant recipients can use a variety of cost-effective emission reduction strategies, such as EPA-verified retrofit and idle-reduction technologies, EPA-certified engine upgrades, vehicle or equipment replacements, cleaner fuels and creation of innovative clean diesel financing programs. One example is detailed in a case study about the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians in Michigan submitted to the EDGE online environmental resource by Paul Galligan, GCSAA class A director of golf courses and grounds maintenance at Grand Traverse Resort and Brian Napont, Grand Traverse Band air quality specialist.

The band utilized funding from the clean diesel program to retrofit two mowers and a tractor operated by Grand Traverse Resort. The resort also hosted a Diesel Retrofit Boot Camp to assist others interested in retrofitting diesel engines.