AARP Community Challenge Grant Program Funds Four SD Projects

Communities across South Dakota are working each and every day to become more livable for residents of all ages.

In support of that work, AARP is excited to be able to provide funding to organizations through the AARP Community Challenge, now in its third year. These “quick action” grants are being distributed to 159 organizations, with at least one in every state, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including four projects right here in South Dakota.

The Community Challenge grants fund innovative projects that can inspire change in areas such as transportation, open spaces, housing, smart cities and more. We are excited about the important work that the Community Challenge Grant recipients are doing in South Dakota this year. They include:

• Fort Pierre, SD is putting the finishing touches on their community garden which helps improve the health of local residents.
• Lemmon, SD is hosting a pop-up ‘Buffalo Bakery’ in the local library during the month of October to promote social inclusion.
• Downtown Sioux Falls is implementing traffic calming measures at two busy intersections to improve pedestrian safety.
• Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation is building an accessible park in Pine Ridge that community members of all ages can enjoy together.

The Community Challenge is part of AARP’s nationwide work on livable communities, which supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and counties across the country to become great places for all residents. We believe that communities should provide safe, walkable streets; affordable and accessible housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents to participate in community life.

After funding 217 projects between 2017 and 2018, AARP has increased its investment to nearly $1.6 million for 159 projects this year. To learn more about the work being funded by the AARP Community Challenge here in South Dakota as well as across the nation, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. And to learn more about how AARP is working to make communities across South Dakota and across the U.S. more livable for all residents, visit aarp.org/livable.