AARP invests in communities across Louisiana through 6 organizations as part of nationwide grant program

Communities across Louisiana 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 Louisiana is incredibly proud to have 6 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 Louisiana, these exciting and diverse projects were funded:

• Dillard University in New Orleans will receive $10,000 to support a community garden with 20 raised-bed garden boxes, six healthy-cooking demonstrations and four health fairs. 
  
  
• Algiers Small Business Corridor Improvements, located on the West Bank of New Orleans will receive $9,000 to support six bike racks, decorative lighting and a bicycle repair station that will be added along a three-block section of Kabel Drive, a commercial corridor in the Algiers neighborhood.

• The City of Thibodaux in Lafourche Parish will receive $8,000 for benches and bicycle racks to be installed downtown and along the Menard Pedestrian Bike Trail.
  
  
• Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC) will receive $20,000 for wayfinding signage to be added to a bike and walking trail on Scotlandville Parkway, along with art that represents the area’s history and the contributions of African Americans and local veterans.

• The Center for Planning Excellence in downtown Bunkie will receive $14,000 to draw plans to convert two vacant, city-owned lots into pocket parks and at least one will be developed through the use of AARP Community Challenge funds.
  
  
• Bethlehem Lutheran Church in New Orleans will receive $40,000 to install a wheelchair lift.

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 [STATE] 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 [STATE]’s livable communities work at aarp.org/livable.