CreatINg Livable Communities

What is a livable community?

It is one that is safe and secure. It offers choices in where to live and how to get around. And it equitably serves residents of all ages, ability levels, incomes, races, ethnicities, and other backgrounds.

It is with that idea in mind that AARP Indiana and the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority (IHCDA) are partnering for CreatINg Livable Communities.

CreatINg Livable Communities is a pilot partnership that assists Indiana communities in funding place-based projects for aging in place. AARP Indiana will provide additional funding to five CreatINg Places projects that benefit Hoosiers aged 50 or older. 

This effort will further the missions of both AARP’s Livable Communities program and IHCDA’s CreatINg Places crowdgranting program.

Eligible projects will be reviewed and approved on a first come, first served, and case-by-case basis until all funds are exhausted. AARP Indiana will serve in an advisory capacity in selecting project applications that request supplemental funding.

The five projects selected will receive additional funding from AARP Indiana up to $5,000, in addition to a matching grant between $5,000 and $50,000 from the IHCDA’s CreatINg Places program, allowing projects to crowdfund up to $50,000 and receive an additional $55,000 in matching and grant funding. 

Eligible projects must have a total development budget of between $15,000 and $105,000. Projects must crowdfund between $5,000 and $50,000 according to CreatINg Places guidelines through Patronicity’s crowdfunding platform. Patronicity is dedicated to improving spaces in local communities by providing funding support that combines individual donations with matching government grants to help ensure project completion.

Unsuccessful crowdfunding campaigns will not receive grant funding from the IHCDA or AARP Indiana. CreatINg Places projects have a high crowdfunding success rate thanks to the one-on-one crowdfunding coaching that Patronicity provides, helping communities to crowdfund over $7 million since the program launched in 2015. 

Projects must provide a clear and tangible benefit to Hoosiers aged 50 or older. Additionally, selected projects must satisfy at least three of the following additional criteria: 

1. Does the project have clear ties to one or more existing efforts to make the community more livable for Hoosiers ages 50-plus?
2. Does the project promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility for Hoosiers 50-plus?
3. Does the organization have a plan to engage residents, key stakeholders, and volunteers ages 50-plus in project implementation?
4. Does the project advance or relate to one or more of AARP Indiana’s key priorities for Hoosiers 50-plus:

o Multi-modal transportation
o Housing options
o Access to high-speed internet
o Caregiving/Access to Care

Learn more and find the program guidelines at www.patronicity.com/creatingplaces. Questions? Contact Bridget Anderson, Vice President at Patronicity at bridget@patronicity.com.