AARP Invests in Communities Across Georgia Through Grant Program

ATLANTA (July 7, 2022) - Communities across Georgia are working to become more livable for residents of all ages.

AARP is working 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 Community Challenge grant program. More than $3.4 million in quick-action grants are being distributed to 260 organizations across all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Community Challenge funds innovative projects that inspire change in areas such as transportation; public spaces; housing; diversity, equity, and inclusion; civic engagement; and more. This year, with additional funding support from Toyota Motor North America, the program is also increasing its investment in projects that improve mobility innovation and transportation options. 

AARP is also bolstering its support of affordable and adaptable housing solutions in response to the national housing crisis, as well as those that address disparities through permanent or temporary solutions. Many of this year’s projects also include ways to help communities leverage funding under the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

AARP Georgia is incredibly proud to have eight grantees 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.

Here in Georgia, these exciting and diverse projects were funded:

• Atlanta BeltLine Partnership (Atlanta)
  
  • Resource coordinators will be hired to inform longtime residents about the organization’s Legacy Resident Retention Program, which provides financial assistance to cover property-tax increases.
    
• Augusta Urban Ministries (Augusta)
  
  • Free bikes, safety training, related equipment, and continuing inspections and repairs will be provided to 25 older adults. A community bike ride along the Augusta Canal Trail, plus safety training, will take place.
    
• We Love Buford Highway (Brookhaven)
  
  • A newsletter featuring immigrant stories from the Buford Highway corridor will be created and distributed through a news rack stationed along the commercial roadway. An event featuring recitations of the stories in five languages will be staged.
    
• City of Brunswick (Brunswick)
  
  • Landscaping and ADA-compliant benches will be added around the perimeter of the labyrinth, or contemplative walking path, planned for Goodyear Park.
    
• METRA Transit System (Columbus)
  
  • Four two-person, porch-type swings will be installed at the city bus station on newly created beds of wood chips for safety.
    
• West Georgia STAR (LaGrange)
  
  • A shuttle service will be created, operating 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., in this rural community with no formal public transportation system nor access to ride-sharing services such as Lyft or Uber.
    
• Bike Walk Macon (Macon-Bibb County)
  
  • To help strengthen bonds between the dissimilar communities, four crosswalks at the corner of Clayton and Walnut streets will be artistically redesigned by residents of the adjacent Vineville and Pleasant Hill neighborhoods.
    
• Heritage Senior Activity Center (McDonough)
  
  • Ten adult tricycles will be purchased (along with helmets, locks and pumps) and made available for borrowing.

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.

To learn more about the work being funded by the AARP Community Challenge both here in Georgia as well as across the nation, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. You can also view an interactive map of all of the Community Challenge projects and AARP Georgia’s livable communities work at aarp.org/livable.