Project Clean Air Repair (Project CAR) will celebrate its 1,000th vehicle repair this week, marking a major milestone in nearly a decade of improving air quality while helping income-qualified Minnesotans keep safe, reliable transportation. Led by Environmental Initiative, the program reduces pollution by repairing some of the state’s most-polluting cars, trucks, and SUVs.
In many states, vehicle inspection programs identify cars with malfunctioning emissions systems and require owners to repair them before they can be legally driven. Minnesota has no statewide inspection program, meaning vehicles with faulty catalytic converters, evaporative emissions control systems, exhaust gas recirculation valves, oxygen sensors, and other emissions equipment can continue operating for years without repairs. For many drivers, the issue isn’t a lack of desire to fix their vehicles; it’s the cost. Emissions repairs can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, placing them out of reach for many households.
“When someone can't afford to repair their high-emitting vehicle, they still need to keep driving to go to work, pick up their kids, and get groceries,” said Lydia Godfrey, neighborhood air pollution control lead at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). “That means these cars are on the road emitting more emissions than the average passenger car, harming human health, and impacting the people who drive the vehicles, their communities, and Minnesota as a whole.”
Project CAR was created to bridge that gap. Launched as a pilot program in 2017, the initiative set out to test whether targeted emissions repairs could serve as an effective and scalable strategy to improve air quality in the state. With a budget of just over $30,000, the pilot partnered with the Lift Garage and Cars for Neighbors with a goal of repairing 40 vehicles. The pilot established the partnerships, processes, and operating model needed to expand the program statewide. Now, Project CAR includes 14 partner garages across the state and has helped reduce an estimated 55 tons of harmful air pollutants across Minnesota annually.
Local partners drive the impact
The statewide success is made possible by local garages and nonprofit repair organizations that work directly with eligible drivers.
“It’s the collective impact that stands out,” said Kat Smithe and Bob Hylland, Cars for Neighbors board members. Cars for Neighbors was one of the original partners in the pilot program and continues to be a key partner today. The nonprofit has been working with garages in Anoka County for 25 years and has a mission of fostering independence by providing affordable car repairs. Cars for Neighbors uses Project CAR funding to complete upgrades and provide repairs to broken emissions systems while reducing barriers to reliable transportation in Anoka County. Since 2020, they’ve been able to reduce 8.5 tons of harmful volatile organic compounds and emissions from the environment in Anoka County alone.
“Every repaired vehicle represents someone who can get to work, take their children to school, attend medical appointments, and remain independent. Through Project CAR, those same repairs also help reduce harmful emissions, creating benefits that extend beyond the individual to the entire community,” Kat and Bob said.
The Lift Garage has also been involved in Project CAR since the beginning. Based in south Minneapolis, The Lift Garage offers affordable repairs, inspections, and education to help community members keep their vehicles safely on the road. Repairs are completed at the organization’s on-site garage.
Yohanis Shitta, director of operations and programs for the Lift Garage, has seen the impact that Project CAR has had on allowing the organization to provide more repairs for more people throughout the Twin Cities. “This allows people to have working and safe cars, both for themselves and other people on the road,” she said. “It allows people to have cars that are not loud, do not produce fumes into the cabin, and help with engine performance.”
A proven model for cleaner air
Funding for Project CAR is currently provided by Flint Hills Resources, Marathon Petroleum, Great River Energy, the city of Minneapolis, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Since its launch, the MPCA has invested $680,000 in Project CAR, with funding growing over time as the program proved its impacted and expanded its reach. In July 2026, the MPCA awarded an additional $250,000, ensuring the program can continue serving communities through 2028.
This investment is matched dollar for dollar by partner organizations, meaning every $1 invested by the MPCA is matched with another $1, doubling the resources available to help Minnesota drivers access essential vehicle repairs while improving air quality.
As Project CAR reaches its 1000th repair, Environmental Initiative sees the milestone as evidence that targeted emissions repairs can improve both air quality and transportation access. With a proven model and growing network of partners, the organization hopes to continue to grow the program’s reach across Minnesota.
“We've cracked the code here,” said Eben Kowler, Senior Partnership Manager at Environmental Initiative. “We know how to make this happen. We can scale up this work around the state.”
Drivers interested in learning whether they qualify for assistance can visit Environmental Initiative’s repair process guide for eligibility information and application details.