AARP Investing $101,920.00 in Florida Communities!

AARP is investing $101,920.00 in Florida communities as part of a nationwide grant program. Twelve communities across Florida are getting a boost in their work to become more livable for residents of all ages.

Each year, AARP works in partnership with local leaders, organizations, and dedicated residents to help make that vision a reality. As part of that effort, AARP is excited to announce the largest investment of grant dollars to date through the AARP Community Challenge grant program. More than $3.8 million in quick-action grants are being distributed to 343 projects across all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The AARP Community Challenge funds innovative projects that inspire change in areas such as public places; housing; transportation; and more. In 2024, AARP is bolstering its investment in digital connectivity, community resilience, rural communities, and addressing disparities. With additional funding support provided by Toyota Motor North America, the program is also increasing its investment in pedestrian safety projects that will improve streets and sidewalks, create vibrant pedestrian infrastructure, engage community members and much more.

AARP Florida is incredibly proud to have twelve projects granted right here in our state. Our goal is to support their efforts to create great places for people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities. As local leaders seek to better their communities for the future, this becomes even more critical.

The program is funding projects across three different grant opportunities, including flagship grants, capacity-building microgrants, and demonstration grants.
Here in Florida, these exciting projects were funded:

• Clearwater: 360 Eats
  This project will outfit a mobile soup kitchen with additional refrigeration units. This will increase storage space for donated food, which the organization provides to people facing food insecurity, particularly older adults and those transitioning from homelessness.
  
• Jacksonville: Cathedral District-Jax on Cathedral Hill
  This project will install lit gateway markers throughout the Cathedral Hill neighborhood to enhance safety and wayfinding. The markers will also support gathering spaces within the community.
  
• City of Dade City: City of Dade City
  This project will add picnic tables to areas frequented by older residents. The new tables will be sturdy and ADA-compliant and allow residents to gather and enjoy time in nature.
  
• Tampa, St. Petersburg: Feeding Tampa Bay
  This project will install free-standing bike racks at a new food panty facility and cafe locations. The racks will protect bikes from theft and improve accessibility for neighbors experiencing food insecurity, as well as for staff and volunteers.
  
• Jacksonville: Mayport Waterfront Inc.
  This project will conduct walk audits and follow-up meetings. Lack of sidewalks and crossing signals presents a safety issue in the neighborhood, and parking overflows onto the area's narrow residential streets during community events.
  
• Pinellas Park: Pinellas Park Fire Department
  This project will install grab bars in the homes of residents age 50 or older. These residents have frequently used the local EMS response system and are considered at high risk of falling.
  
• Fort Lauderdale: Rebuilding Together Broward County
  This project will enhance safety for older adults by installing grab bars, lighting and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes. This will help residents navigate their living spaces independently.
  
• Rockledge: Resource Center for Disability Solutions
  This project will provide home usability assessments for older adults to identify trip hazards and needed lighting and railings, among other concerns. Specialists will mitigate these issues and train participants in home safety best practices.
  
• St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg Housing Authority
  This project will make a community garden accessible by constructing benches, an awning and raised beds for growing healthy, free food. The Housing Authority will also hold workshops on sustainable gardening, cooking and budgeting skills.
  
• Tallahassee: StarMetro
  This project will teach older adults skills needed to navigate public transportation independently. The city's transit provider will offer trainings to residents at no cost.
  
• Jacksonville: Support Committee at Jacksonville National Cemetery Inc.
  This project will install benches in the cemetery's visitor's lobby to provide comfortable seating for older veterans and those with mobility challenges. The cemetery will also made aesthetic improvements, including displaying flags representing each military branch.
  
• Surfside: Town of Surfside
  The town will install ADA-compliant beach mats, which provide a nonslip, semi-rigid walking surface for people with mobility challenges. The mats will help residents cross the beach to access the water and nearby shaded areas.

The Community Challenge grant program 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.

To learn more about the work being funded by the AARP Community Challenge both here in Florida as well as across the nation, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. You can also view the AARP Livable Communities Map – a free, interactive tool with information on the more than 1,700 AARP Community Challenge grantees and more than 800 members in the Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.