Key facts
- AARP awarded $8.3 million in grants to 750 projects nationwide.
- The grants focus on improving housing, public spaces, transportation, and digital connectivity for seniors.
- Half of the funded projects are in rural communities.
- The program aims to help older adults age in place.
- Housing design competitions are a key grant category, with a focus on ADUs and senior-friendly housing.
AARP, a non-profit organization focused on older Americans, has announced over $8.3 million in grants to fund 750 projects across the United States and its territories. The initiative, marking the 10th anniversary of its Community Challenge grant program, aims to enhance community livability by improving housing, public spaces, transportation, and digital connectivity, with a particular focus on supporting seniors' desire to age in place.
This record level of funding comes in response to a surge in applications, reflecting the rapid aging of the U.S. population and the strong preference among seniors to remain in their homes and communities. The grants are designed for quick implementation, with projects typically completed within months. AARP has set ambitious goals to positively impact 25 million seniors and support 100,000 community projects by 2028.
Officials highlighted the importance of age-friendly infrastructure, noting that by 2034, individuals aged 65 and older are projected to surpass the number of children under 18 in the U.S. Mayors from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, shared how previous grants have led to tangible improvements, such as enhanced pedestrian safety and home modifications for seniors, thereby stabilizing neighborhoods and extending residents' ability to age independently.
Specific grant categories include support for housing design competitions, with AARP allocating funds to 13 cities for projects focused on increasing access to middle-housing options, developing age-friendly accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and promoting universal design principles. Corporate partnerships with Toyota and Microsoft are also contributing to specific project types, focusing on pedestrian safety and digital connectivity, respectively.