This is a paid release.
LOUSIVILLE, KY—AARP announced five organizations across Kentucky will receive 2024 Community Challenge grants – part of AARP’s largest investment in communities to date with $3.8 million awarded among 343 organizations nationwide. Grantees will implement quick-action projects that help communities become more livable by improving public places; transportation; housing; digital connections; and more, with an emphasis on the needs of adults ages 50 and older.
“AARP Kentucky is committed to working with local leaders, advocates and policymakers to make our communities better places to live for Kentuckians of all ages, especially those 50 and older,” said Gary Adkins, AARP Kentucky volunteer state president. “We are proud to collaborate with this year’s grantees as they make immediate improvements to address long-standing and emerging challenges across our communities.”
Here in Kentucky, funded projects include:
• Bowling Green: HOTEL INC
This project will conduct trainings on home safety, focusing on the needs of older adults. The organization will also create a display demonstrating affordable, accessible products to allow residents to age in place. (Capacity-Building Microgrant)
• Jenkins: Appalshop, Inc.
This project will repair sidewalks, install benches and add community art along two downtown corridors frequented by older residents. (Flagship Grant)
• Liberty: Casey County Public Library
The library will create a story walk — a series of displays along an accessible path designed to display pages from a storybook. The project responds to local grandparents’ requests for more activities they can do with their grandchildren. (Flagship Grant)
• Mount Sterling: Gateway Regional Arts Center
This project will transform an unused downtown plot into an accessible garden featuring paths, benches, sculptures and flowers. The space is near an assisted living facility and a new senior center. (Flagship Grant)
• West Point: West Point Revitalization Committee
This project will install ADA-compliant sidewalks and benches, making a local park more accessible to older adults and visitors with mobility challenges. The museum in the park welcomes 200 visitors each month, many of whom are older adults. (Flagship Grant)
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.
“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.”
The 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, with an emphasis on people ages 50 and older. Since 2017, AARP Kentucky has awarded 36 grants and $365,516 through the program to nonprofit organizations and government entities across the state.
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.
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.
