Zonar and the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) are offering the 2016 Don Carnahan Memorial Grant for school bus contractors.

According to Zonar and NSTA, the grant program is designed to support and promote the improved safety and efficiency of pupil transportation programs in the U.S. and Canada. Up to $50,000 in Zonar’s school bus safety, security, and efficiency technology hardware will be awarded to grant recipients.

Applications will be accepted through Dec. 16. This year's recipients will be awarded on a rolling basis, and they will be formally announced at NSTA's Midwinter Meeting in January.

The grant opportunity has been made available annually to eligible NSTA members since 2011.

"We are excited to partner again with Zonar on this grant opportunity and are pleased that this opportunity helps another one of our contractor members become safer and more efficient," said Ronna Weber, NSTA executive director. "This opportunity affords members access to valuable tools to improve operations and keep them at the forefront of the industry's best practices."

"We understand NSTA members want to provide the schools that they serve with leading-edge technology with the potential to significantly improve student safety and reduce business costs," said H. Kevin Mest, senior vice president of business development for Zonar Systems. "Zonar is committed to delivering smart transportation technology to achieve safety initiatives in student transportation, and we are proud to offer this grant program for the sixth consecutive year to help NSTA members meet this goal."

For more information on the Don Carnahan Memorial Grant and to submit an application, go here.