WASHINGTON—Today, AARP announced it is investing $3.8 million in 343 Community Challenge grants for quick-action projects to help communities become more livable. These grants will improve public places; transportation; housing; digital connections; and more, with an emphasis on the needs of adults ages 50 and older. With this year’s projects, AARP has invested $20.1 million through over 1,700 grants since 2017 to nonprofit organizations and government entities across the country.

“Whether it’s helping people access high speed internet or protecting public transit riders from rain and snow, small community projects can have a big impact on people of all ages,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer. “AARP Community Challenge grantees make our commitment to creating better places to live a reality through quick, innovative solutions.” 

AARP Community Challenge grant projects will be funded in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. True to the program’s quick-action nature, projects must be completed by December 15, 2024.

This year, AARP awarded three different grant opportunities, including flagship grants, capacity-building microgrants for improving walkability, bikeability and accessible home modifications, and demonstration grants that focus on equitable engagement to reconnect communities, housing choice design competitions and improving digital connections to endure disasters.

With funding support from Toyota Motor North America, the program is increasing its investment in pedestrian safety projects that will improve streets and sidewalks, create vibrant pedestrian infrastructure, engage community members and much more.

AARP is also bolstering its investment in community resilience, rural communities, and addressing disparities. Examples of this year’s projects include:

• Boone, North Carolina: Installing tunnel murals in North Carolina's mountains, designed by residents and expressing community identity with multigenerational engagement of volunteers ages 50 and older.
• Medford, Oregon: Creating free or low cost, permitted plans that encourage the development of middle housing options for older adults and their families.
• Cole, Oklahoma: Developing community storm shelters to provide safe refuge to all residents during severe weather.
• Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Launching the state’s first mobile medical equipment lending library to increase residents’ access to vital equipment and improve health outcomes, especially among older adults.
• Fresno, California: Hosting a housing choice design competition that will focus on adapting existing office space to create more accessible housing to help residents, especially older adults, age in place.
• Memphis, Tennessee: Hosting a series of student volunteer led digital skills courses for older adults to help bridge the divide in rural areas.

The Community Challenge grant program is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for people of all ages, especially those age 50 and older. Now in its eighth year, grantees have installed over 30,000 tangible improvements in communities and created more than 4,300 resources, activities or programs.

View the full list of grantees and their project descriptions at aarp.org/communitychallenge and learn more about AARP’s livable communities work at aarp.org/livable.

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About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.