AARP Awards Grants to Seven Organizations in Colorado as Part of Nationwide Program to Make Communities More Livable

Denver, Colo.— AARP announced seven organizations throughout Colorado 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 Colorado is proud to collaborate with this year’s grantees as they make immediate improvements to address long-standing and emerging challenges across our communities,” State Director Sara Schueneman said. “We are committed to working with these local leaders, advocates and policymakers to make our communities better places to live for Coloradans of all ages, especially those 50 and older.”

Here in Colorado, projects funded include:

· City of Fort Collins (Fort Collins, $20,000)

To support livability in mobile home parks, the City of Fort Collins is hosting MHP Plumbing 101 workshops and Power Tool Empowerment experiential sessions to build DIY skills and self-confidence in participants.

· Denver Regional Mobility & Access Council (Denver, $16,398)

This project is providing travel training for older Denver residents. Older adults who receive travel training feel more confident about using the public transit system. They can remain independent because they are able to run errands, attend social events and go to appointments.

· Centro San Juan Diego (Denver, $4,000)

This project is providing a tailored computer literacy program to Spanish-speaking, older residents in the Denver metro area, helping adults over the age of 50 learn basic and more intermediate internet navigation and Office suite skills.

· All Points Transit (Montrose, $17,547)

This project is helping fund the purchase of transit shelters and benches at new bus stops for better transit access in rural Western Colorado, while providing comfortable seating for older adults and riders of all ages.

· Denver Streets Partnership (Denver, $20,000)

The project is bringing residents together to share the history of how the Colfax Ave and Federal Blvd interchange has divided the neighborhood and discussing how removing this barrier could reconnect the community.

· San Luis Valley Great Outdoors (Alamosa, $2,500)

The Alamosa Bicycle Working Group is hosting three community bicycle audits to develop strategies to encourage safe bicycle use. The group is partnering with Alamosa Senior Citizens Inc. to provide input.

· High Line Canal Conservancy (Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Greenwood Village, Denver, and Aurora; $2,500)

This project allows for conducting walk audits along the High Line Canal at popular access points and street crossings. The project will be led by CU Boulder Masters of Environment students with support from volunteers.

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 Colorado has awarded 32 grants and $386,232 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.