LE MARS, Iowa -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources awarded an $11,490 state grant to a Northwest Iowa charter bus company - the only area transportation provider to receive funding from the state Department of Natural Resources' Reduce Iowa's Diesel Exhaust, or RIDE program.

The funding was given to Le Mars-based Royal Charters Inc. This company has been awarded the monies to help reduce emissions in half of its fleet of vehicles.

The state estimates the funding will help Royal Charters reduce 22 tons of carbon dioxide and nearly a ton of nitrogen oxide each year. The funding will help finance nearly a quarter of the $50,000 cost to retrofit four buses, said Jason Jackes, vice preisdent of Royal Charters.

"It is important to strategically plan to reduce emissions by innovative and alternative means,'' Jackes said.

The RIDE program was funded through the federal stimulus program approved by Congress in February.

Royal Charters, a family-based business started in 2000, has 40 full- and part-time employees.