2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantees

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For the eighth annual AARP Community Challenge, AARP received more than 3,350 applications from nonprofits and government entities, resulting in a highly competitive selection process.

Some $3.8 million is being invested across the country through 343 quick-action projects, helping urban, rural and suburban communities make immediate improvements and jump-start long-term

progress to support residents of all ages.

Grants will improve public places, transportation, housing, and more — with an emphasis on the needs of adults age 50 and older — in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S.

Virgin Islands.

AARP is also bolstering its investment in digital connectivity, community resilience, rural communities, and addressing disparities.

See the 2024 AARP Community Challenge page to learn about this year's three grant opportunities: Flagship Grants, Capacity-Building Microgrants, Demonstration Grants.

The complete list of this year’s 343 grantees can be found below.

If a grantee has a website or online presence, its name appears in blue and is hyperlinked. 

ALABAMA

offer technology classes geared toward older adults. (Flagship Grant)Heflin: Cleburne County Chamber of Commerce and Farmers MarketThis project will allow older residents and people with

mobility challenges to easily access the farmers market by adding ADA-compliant sidewalks and parking spaces. (Flagship Grant)Montgomery: Montgomery County CommissionThis project will engage

volunteers to conduct two bike audits evaluating safety near Montgomery Whitewater park. County officials will analyze the findings and work toward implementing improvements.

(Capacity-Building Microgrant)Tuscaloosa: Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Inc.CSP will host digital literacy skills classes for people age 50 and older. Participants will learn

how to access disaster and emergency information apps, as well as cyber security best practices and the basics of using devices. (Demonstration Grant) More 2024 ListsDemonstration Grants

Capacity-Building MicrograntsWatch the Announcement Video!

ALASKA

Grant)Anchorage: Chugach Mountain Bike RidersTen older adult riders will conduct bike audits on the trails at and around the community’s most popular park. Three audits will identify work

needed to accommodate tricycles and other adaptive cycles. The other two audits will identify safe connections on busy access routes. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Anchorage: Cook Inlet

Housing AuthorityThis project will hold a design competition where teams will test recent local zoning reform efforts. Each team will create feasible designs for “missing middle housing,”

including accessible units for people age 50 and older. The competition will also communicate the benefits of multi-generational housing. (Demonstration Grant)Anchorage: Fairview Community

CouncilTo improve walkability, this project will engage youth from the Fairview neighborhood to remove sidewalk obstructions during the summer and snow during the winter. (Flagship

Grant)Anchorage: NeighborWorks AlaskaThis initiative aims to bring together the Fairview neighborhood, which a highway split in two 60 years ago, resulting in decades of disinvestment and

adverse safety and health impacts. NeighborWorks will host placemaking events encouraging residents of all ages to re-envision and revitalize the corridor. (Demonstration Grant)Fairbanks and

 North Pole: Fairbanks Community Food BankThis project will provide pots, soil and plants to older adults, allowing them to grow produce at their homes. The food bank will then share produce

grown with local families in need. (Flagship Grant)Juneau: Friends of Jensen-Olson ArboretumThis initiative will create an accessible concrete path, allowing visitors with mobility

challenges to use a bench with optimal views of the arboretum’s gardens and canal. This will allow Juneau's senior living facilities to add the arboretum to their outings for provide

residents. (Flagship Grant)

ARIZONA

percentage of the city’s cyclists are age 50 or older. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Cottonwood and Clarkdale: Yavapai County Community Health ServicesTo offer a safe, convenient passage for

commuters and recreational cyclists, this project will create a bike trail network. The grantee will install maps, signage and repair stations along the route. (Flagship Grant)Green Valley:

 Valley Assistance ServicesThis program will provide educational classes and home evaluations to older adults to help them safely age in place. Valley Assistance Services will also modify

homes using the AARP HomeFit Guide and distribute safety items to participants. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Phoenix: Fairview Place Neighborhood AssociationTo help newly planted trees

survive in an area with little tree canopy, the neighborhood association will install watering hoses, digital timers and soil probes at older adults’ homes. (Flagship)Phoenix: Promise

ArizonaThis project will teach families enrolled in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program how to use digital tools. Training will focus on how to access health and emergency services,

as well as do routine online activities, such as banking and purchasing tickets. (Demonstration Grant)Phoenix: TigerMountain FoundationThis walk audit will identify potential safety

improvements to crosswalks, lighting and pedestrian islands. The audit will help enhance accessibility, particularly for older adults. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Tempe/Phoenix: Sun Sounds

of ArizonaThis initiative will upgrade six recording studios and one computer, which reading volunteers use to record information for people who cannot read print material due to a

disability. (Flagship Grant) Tucson: Living Streets AllianceThis pilot program will allow community members to close local streets to vehicle traffic, creating a safe space for residents to

gather outdoors. The small events are meant to be a miniature version of the community’s biannual Cyclovia open streets festival. (Flagship Grant)

ARKANSAS

veterans and people with disabilities, focusing on online tools and resources that benefit them. (Flagship Grant)England: Melosong CITYThis project will add amenities to a half-acre garden,

including a bike rack and repair station, circuit training equipment, interactive musical instruments and a farm stand for distributing fruits and vegetables. (Flagship Grant)Heber Springs: 

Breakin’ Bread Community KitchenThis project will replace broken heating and air conditioning unit in a community dining room, creating a comfortable space for the patrons to enjoy a free

meal. (Flagship Grant)Keiser: City of KeiserThe city will reimagine a local park, focusing on the older adults’ needs. The project will add amenities onsite, including low-impact exercise

equipment, accessible walking tracks, ample shade and comfortable seating. (Flagship Grant)Pine Bluff: City of Pine BluffThe city will conduct three bike audits to determine where to add

bike lanes, as the current absence of such lanes puts cyclists at risk. The project will specifically invite older adult volunteers to weigh in. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)  Related

PublicationsAARP Bike Audit Tool KitAARP Disaster Resilience Tool KitAARP HomeFit GuideDiscovering and Developing Missing Middle Housing

CALIFORNIA

office space. The contestants will explore how to reuse empty commercial spaces to combat the housing crisis. (Demonstration Grant)Imperial Beach: City of Imperial BeachThis project will

build and maintain a garden for growing fruit, vegetables and flowers. The city will add raised beds and accessible benches to accommodate older gardeners. They will also hold classes and

other gatherings onsite. (Flagship Grant)Long Beach: Placemaking USThis project will build a community comal — or traditional griddle — and engage older Meso-American women to revive the

weekly tradition of tortilla making. This initiative will foster intergenerational connections and enhance the women’s connection to the community. (Flagship Grant)Los Angeles: Keiro

ServicesIn this project, volunteers will participate in three walk audits in Little Tokyo’s commercial district. Participants will identify potential improvements to sidewalks and

crosswalks. The audits will increase safety for older adults living nearby. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Los Angeles: Streets For AllNeighbors living on either side of a freeway, which has

bisected the area for decades, will come together at pop-up events to identify solutions to reconnect their neighborhoods. The events will specifically welcome patients at the nearby

hospital, as well as older adult residents. (Demonstration Grant)Rancho Cordova: Sacramento Area Bicycle AdvocatesThis project will conduct a bike audit of Rancho Cordova’s first-ever

roundabout project, followed by a meeting with city public works staff to discuss findings and next steps. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Sacramento: Sojourner Truth African Heritage

MuseumThis pop-up placemaking project will transform a parking lot into an outdoor plaza. Volunteers will install accessible benches to accommodate older adults attending planned events in

the space. (Flagship Grant)San Diego: Adams Avenue Business AssociationThis project will create a large mural, transforming an alley into a green space. A pop-up event will feature mural

designs chosen based on community input. Residents will vote for their favorite design and join professionals and city staff to create the mural. (Flagship Grant)San Diego: Webster Heights

Community Development CorporationThis project will invite older volunteers to participate in bike audits along a multi-use path to identify possible safety improvements for the route.

Participants, residents and city officials will then meet to discuss how the audit’s findings. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)San Francisco: Outer Sunset NeighborsThree walk audits will

evaluate the safety and walkability of sidewalks and crosswalks in San Francisco’s Little Chinatown neighborhood. Chinese-speaking volunteers will participate in the audits and attend

meetings with city officials t

o discuss the results. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Vallejo: Vallejo Main StreetThis project will transform a neglected alleyway into a lively gathering space for residents of all ages.

Volunteers will add temporary amenities to the space, which will support more permanent investment into Vallejo’s downtown revitalization. (Flagship Grant)

COLORADO

older residents’ group to identify destinations for the audits. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Denver: Centro San Juan DiegoThis computer literacy project will teach Spanish-speaking older

adults to navigate the internet and use software. Instructors will tailor each lesson based on the needs of the group. (Flagship Grant)Denver: Denver Regional Mobility & Access CouncilThis

project will train older adults to navigate public transit, allowing them to run errands, go to doctors’ appointments and attend social events independently. (Flagship Grant)Denver: Denver

Streets PartnershipThis project will bring together residents to share the history of how local highways have divided their neighborhood. Participants will then discuss how removing this

barrier could reconnect the community. (Demonstration Grant)Fort Collins: City of Fort CollinsLicensed professionals will teach plumbing and power tool workshops. The trainings will focus on

residents of mobile home parks, who will learn DIY skills and build self-confidence to maintain their homes. (Flagship Grant)Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village,

Greenwood Village, Denver and Aurora: High Line Canal ConservancyWalk audits will allow residents to evaluate access points and busy street crossings along an urban trail. The findings will

inform updated trail guidebooks, online resources and signage. They will also help prioritize trail improvements and remove barriers to access. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Montrose: All

Points TransitThis project will install transit shelters and benches for new and existing bus stops, providing comfort for riders of all ages. (Flagship Grant)

CONNECTICUT

smartphone or smart device. (Flagship Grant)Ellington: Town of EllingtonThe town will install a greenhouse at a senior center’s garden, which grows produce for the local food pantry. The

greenhouse will lengthen the growing season, enabling volunteers to garden during colder months. (Flagship Grant)Fairfield: Fairfield Museum and History CenterThis museum will improve

accessibility in its exhibit galleries to accommodate a wider array of visitors. Additions include closed-captioned videos, audio headsets, Spanish-language translation and large-print

exhibit labels. (Flagship Grant)Fairfield: The Connecticut Audubon SocietyThis project will construct an elevated, accessible boardwalk to give individuals with mobility challenges access to

the popular Birds of Prey Compound. (Flagship Grant)Manchester: Manchester Area Conferences of Churches CharitiesThis project will transform five parking spaces into a community garden for

six months each year. Three new raised garden beds will allow gardeners to grow fruit and vegetables for a food pantry and soup kitchen. (Flagship Grant).Torrington: City of Torrington

Police DepartmentThis project will make accessibility improvements to a crosswalk, making a busy intersection safer. The crossing connects residents to downtown amenities, parks and transit

routes. (Flagship Grant)·Vernon: Town of Vernon Senior CenterThis project will create a community garden at a senior center. Gardeners will grow fresh vegetables and herbs to supply the

center’s breakfast and lunch programs. (Flagship Grant)

DELAWARE

residents to add murals to two crosswalks. (Flagship Grant)Seaford: Seaford Community GardenThis project will improve a community garden, adding growing tables, water and soil for older

adults who are unable to garden in plots. Expert gardeners will also provide training on growing flowers, herbs and vegetables. (Flagship Grant)Wilmington: Brandywine Valley Friends Delaware

First Resilience HubThis project will provide training on preparing for disasters and distribute preparedness kits to participants. The initiative will also outfit a mobile emergency

disaster unit with solar-powered satellite internet access and portable charging units. (Demonstration Grant)Wilmington: Delaware Art MuseumThe museum will install eight murals throughout

the community, including at two residences for older adults. The public art initiative will coincide with an exhibition on illustrations from the Jazz Age. (Flagship Grant)Wilmington:

Delaware Center for HorticultureThe center will provide ergonomic gardening tools to designed for older adults and people with mobility and strength challenges. Tools include hori horis

(soil or weeding knives), adjustable telescopic rakes, two-wheeled wheelbarrows and kneeling benches. (Flagship Grant)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

with disabilities to help them prepare for extreme heat events. The agency will also create a heat emergency preparedness wall calendar and distribute cool kits. (Flagship Grant)Washington:

Forest Hills of DCTo advance positive images of aging, this temporary public art initiative will create posters featuring photographs of older adult residents and their caregivers. The

images will then display at an assisted living community during a citywide art festival. (Flagship Grant)Washington: Seabury Resources for AgingThis project will expand shuttle

transportation for older adults and people who are blind to increase their access to a wellness resources, grocery shopping and social outings. (Flagship Grant)

FLORIDA

provides to people facing food insecurity, particularly older adults and those transitioning from homelessness. (Flagship Grant)Dade City: City of Dade CityThis project will add picnic

tables to areas frequented by older residents. The new tables will be sturdy and ADA compliant and allow residents to gather and enjoy time in nature. (Flagship Grant)Fort Lauderdale:

Rebuilding Together Broward CountyThis project will enhance safety for older adults by installing grab bars, lighting and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes. This will help

residents navigate their living spaces independently. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Jacksonville: Cathedral District-Jax on Cathedral HillThis project will install lit gateway markers

throughout the Cathedral Hill neighborhood to enhance safety and wayfinding. The markers will also support gathering spaces within the community. (Flagship Grant)Jacksonville: Mayport

Waterfront, Inc.This project will conduct walk audits and follow-up meetings. Lack of sidewalks and crossing signals presents a safety issue in the neighborhood, and parking overflows onto

the area’s narrow residential streets during community events. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Jacksonville: Support Committee at Jacksonville National CemeteryThis project will install

benches in the cemetery’s visitor’s lobby to provide comfortable seating for older veterans and those with mobility challenges. The cemetery will also made aesthetic improvements, including

displaying flags representing each military branch. (Flagship Grant)Pinellas Park: Pinellas Park Fire DepartmentThis project will install grab bars in the homes of residents age 50 or older.

These residents have frequently used the local EMS response system and are considered at high risk of falling. (Capacity-Building Microgrant): VideoRockledge: Resource Center for Disability

SolutionsThis project will provide home usability assessments for older adults to identify trip hazards and needed lighting and railings, among other concerns. Specialists will mitigate

these issues and train participants in home safety best practices. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg Housing AuthorityThis project will make a community garden

accessible by constructing benches, an awning and raised beds for growing healthy, free food. The Housing Authority will also hold workshops on sustainable gardening, cooking and budgeting

skills. (Flagship Grant)Surfside: Town of SurfsideThe town will install ADA-compliant beach mats, which provide a nonslip, semi-rigid walking surface for people with mobility challenges. The

mats will help residents cross the beach to access the water and nearby shaded areas. (Flagship Grant)Tallahassee: StarMetroThis project will teach older adults skills needed to navigate

public transportation independently. The city’s transit provider will offer trainings to residents at no cost. (Flagship Grant)Tampa-St. Petersburg: Feeding Tampa BayThis project will

install free-standing bike racks at a new food panty facility and café locations. The racks will protect bikes from theft and improve accessibility for neighbors experiencing food

insecurity, as well as for staff and volunteers. (Flagship Grant)

GEORGIA

areas will reduce sidewalk obstructions, making walkways passable for older adults and people with mobility challenges. (Flagship Grant)Atlanta: The Ke'nekt CooperativeThis oral history

project will engage students to interview residents who were displaced when Interstate 20 was built. Additionally, the multimedia initiative will create a map of homes demolished during

construction and provide content for a podcast and public performance. (Demonstration Grant)Brunswick: Bike Walk Golden IslesThis project will recruit older adults to participate in bike

audits along the path of a proposed multi-use trail. Feedback from the audits will inform public meetings with residents and government officials. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Clarkston:

Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of LightThis project will turn unused office space into a community center, which will host activities including crocheting and tai chi. The center

will serve as a gathering space for residents, including the community’s many migrant families. (Flagship Grant)Macon: Keep Macon-Bibb BeautifulThis project will expand a community garden

in a park, adding raised beds for growing healthy food. The initiative will also improve park aesthetics with new benches, trees, flowers and a mural, creating a space for residents to play

checkers, chess and card games. (Flagship Grant)Mount Zion: City of Mount ZionThis city will construct two blessing boxes, which will offer residents access to free, non-perishable foods,

basic toiletries and pet food. The boxes will be located near Mount Zion’s senior center and the local library. (Flagship Grant)Waycross: Southern Georgia Area Agency on AgingTo provide

shade and create a comfortable gathering space, this project will add a covered gazebo and benches to a park, which is located near housing for older adults. (Flagship Grant)Wrens: City of

WrensThe city will build a pavilion at Johnson Lake featuring picnic tables, seating and greenspace. The space will host activities for older adults, including fishing and picnics. (Flagship

Grant)

HAWAII

secure connection to the internet. (Demonstration Grant)Honoka’a: Peace Committee of Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist TempleThis project will update a kitchen used for community meals by replacing

appliances, upgrading electrical circuitry and repairing a leaky roof. The improved facility will support the organization’s food distribution efforts and create a space for

intergenerational cooking classes. (Flagship Grant)Honolulu: The Pantry by Feeding Hawaii TogetherThis project will provide digital skills training, as well as laptops and tablets, to food

pantry volunteers. Participants will learn to navigate the organization’s online volunteer and e-commerce systems, helping them serve residents facing food insecurity. (Flagship Grant)Pearl

City: Leeward Community ChurchThis project will transform a vacant lot into a garden and gathering space with raised vegetable beds and citrus orchards. The space will host educational

workshops and concerts, which will welcome residents of all ages. (Flagship Grant)

IDAHO

socializing. (Flagship Grant)Marsing: City of MarsingThe city will install an outdoor fitness court, which will be available free of charge to residents of all ages and abilities. To make

the space inviting, the city will also create a mural. (Flagship Grant)Nampa: LEAP HousingThis project will renovate an affordable housing community for older adults, keeping rents

affordable and allowing residents to age in place. Renovations will maintain common areas and upgrade building systems, such as plumbing, electrical and fire protection. (Flagship

Grant)Salmon: City of SalmonThe city will improve safety and accessibility by resurfacing worn-out pickleball courts with new concrete or asphalt. The courts are particularly popular with

older adult residents. (Flagship Grant)

ILLINOIS

safety and accessibility concerns, ensuring the path is welcoming to residents of all ages. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Cairo, Carbondale, Harrisburg, Carmi, Golconda, Tamms and Pulaski:

Community Health and Emergency Services, Inc.A series of walk audits will identify viable locations to install benches. The seating will offer residents a place to meet up or wait for rides

during community activities. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Chicago: Black CornerstonesThis project will conduct walk audits to identify potential visibility, sidewalk and crosswalk

improvements. The organization will recruit older volunteers to participate and meet with residents, business owners and local officials to discuss their findings. (Capacity-Building

Microgrant)Jerseyville: City of JerseyvilleBike audits will identify possible locations for bike lanes, with the goal of connecting the north side of town to two grocery stores on the south

side. The organization will recruit older adults will be recruited to participate in the audits. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Maywood: Maywood Public Library DistrictThe library will

install a bike repair station and air pump to support local bike commuters, students and unhoused residents who use bikes to get around. The station will be free for residents of all ages to

use. (Flagship Grant)Princeton: Community A-to-ZTo give residents access to books, food and art, this project will create 26 Little Free Libraries, pantries and galleries throughout town.

Each site will be identified with a letter with a related theme, such as using “A” to represent “aging.” (Flagship Grant)Quincy: Adams County Health DepartmentThis project will launch a

smartphone app to provide residents with important health information and other updates in emergency situations. The health department will conduct outreach with older adults to help them

download the app and learn how to use it. (Demonstration Grant)Waukegan: Connect Lake CountyThis project will help low-income older adults obtain an affordable internet subscription.

Additionally, participants will receive free laptop or tablet, along with in digital literacy training. (Flagship Grant)

INDIANA

community’s Food Truck Friday events, which are held onsite. (Flagship Grant)Frankfort: CORE Community CenterThis project will update a walking path by adding benches at several stopping

points, along with attractive landscaping. The Center will also expand the path to a full loop, improving safety. (Flagship Grant)Gary: Families Anchored in Total Harmony Inc.This project

will provide rug rippers and copies of the AARP HomeFit Guide to people with chronic medical conditions who participate in the All Food is Medicine meal distribution service. The

organization will hold weekly sessions to review the guide. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Lafayette: City of LafayetteThe city will collect older adults’ stories and use them as inspiration

for public art. The placemaking project aims to combat blight in the Lincoln neighborhood by creating vibrant outdoor spaces. (Flagship Grant)South Milford: South Milford Community

LeagueThis project will expand a local park by clearing an area overgrown with weeds and creating ADA-compliant trails onsite. The organization will also install wheelchair-accessible

benches. (Flagship Grant)

IOWA

launch and install seating and lighting onsite. (Flagship Grant)Des Moines: Ingersoll Grand Self Supported Municipal DistrictThis project will install signage in front of local businesses

warning drivers to look out for cyclists and pedestrians using the roadway. The signs will support local Complete Streets efforts along busy Ingersoll Avenue by increasing accessibility and

safety. (Flagship Grant)Dubuque: Four Mounds Foundation HEART PartnershipLocal students will complete home modifications for low-income older adults, allowing them to age in place. The

effort will also offer on-the-job training, mentorship and life planning assistance for participating students. (Flagship Grant)Iowa City: Plan + Place with Morningside Glendale Neighborhood

AssociationTwo walk audits will bring together older adults, students and local stakeholders. The first will highlight multimodal transportation options and placemaking efforts in the

Glendale neighborhood. The second will identify safety challenges along corridors connecting a high school and senior center. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)Monticello: Monticello Public

LibraryThe library will purchase a mobile kitchen to host health and nutrition classes. Programming for adults will focus on making healthy, budget-conscious food choices while classes for

children and teens will cover cooking and kitchen basics. (Flagship Grant)Walcott: City of WalcottThe city will revitalize one tennis court with new asphalt and paint and convert a second

court into pickleball courts. Pickleball offers beneficial exercise for older adults, since the sport is gentle on the joints. (Flagship Grant)

KANSAS

Auburn: City of Auburn Parks Projects with Auburn City CouncilThis project will replace a recently demolished gazebo — which was the focal point of a community park — with a new,

ADA-accessible one. (Flagship Grant)