Five California Winners Selected for the AARP Community Challenge Grant!

At AARP we know it takes time to build great communities, but we also believe that quick action can spark longer-term progress. The  AARP Community Challenge grant provides communities across the country with the chance to fund quick action projects that can inspire change in areas such as transportation, open spaces, housing, and other innovative ideas to improve communities and make them better places to live for all ages and abilities.

After a successful 2017, with 90 grantees nationally, this initiative is now in its 2 ^nd year, and it has increased its investment to over $1.3 million in the form of 129 grants. Here in California, we are excited to announce the following grant recipients.

• City Heights Community Development Corporation, a 501(c)(3) located in San Diego received grant funding of $10,000 for the purpose of creating a vibrant public space, through permanent art.
• City of Chula Vista (Development Services/ Age Friendly Communities Initiative), a Municipality located in San Diego County received grant funding of $5,820 for the purpose of increasing the use of public transportation among local residents ages 50 plus.
• Walk Long Beach, a non-profit located in Long Beach received grant funding of $7,800 for the purpose of creating temporary crosswalks to activate public spaces.
• Florence Fang Asian Community Garden, a project of AsianWeek Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit located in San Francisco received grant funding of $7,000 for the purpose of improving the community garden.
• City of West Sacramento, received grant funding of $10,000 to develop various forms of education and programming to encourage older adults to use the city’s on-demand car and bicycle transportation system.

The Community Challenge is part of AARP’s 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.

To learn more about the work being funded by the AARP Community Challenge grant program, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. To learn more about AARP’s livable communities work, visit aarp.org/livable.