AARP Maine Announces Ten State Winners of Quick-Action Community Improvement Grants for 2025

AARP investing over $74,000 in Maine communities as part of a nationwide grant program  

Ten communities across Maine are getting a boost in their work to become more livable for residents of all ages. 

AARP is excited to announce the largest investment of grant dollars to date through the AARP Community Challenge grant program which aims to make communities more livable for people of all ages, with a focus on people age 50+. More than $4.2 million in quick-action grants are being distributed to 383 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 2025, AARP is increasing its investment in rural communities, with 45% of the projects focused on these places. This marks our most substantial investment in rural grantmaking to date.

Toyota Motor North America is providing additional funding for pedestrian safety projects to improve streets and sidewalks nationwide. Microsoft is also contributing additional funding for digital connections projects aimed at expanding high-speed internet (broadband) access and adoption.

AARP Maine is thrilled to have ten 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.

“AARP Maine is committed to working with local leaders, advocates and policymakers to make our communities better places to live for Mainers of all ages, especially those 50 and older,” said Noël Bonam, AARP Maine State Director. “We are proud to collaborate with this year’s grantees as they make immediate improvements to address long-standing and emerging challenges across our communities.”

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

· Age Friendly Communities of the Lower Kennebec (Arrowsic) This project will conduct six listening sessions to understand disaster preparedness needs in the region. Older adults from six communities will share disaster stories, evaluate a sample preparedness kit, and receive training. This will help create and distribute kits tailored to community needs. 

· Age-Friendly Sullivan: Age-Friendly Sullivan will upgrade the Community Gazebo in Sumner Park with new electrical outlets, structural repairs, and a new roof. The project aims to enhance the gazebo for public events and celebrations, focusing on the needs of residents age 50-plus. 

· AIA Maine (Portland): AIA Maine will host a design competition to explore innovative housing solutions for underserved communities. The event will include educational sessions on accessibility, aging in place, and lessons learned from the competition. 

· Central Hall Commons (Dover-Foxcroft): This project will conduct five walk audits in downtown Dover-Foxcroft to identify locations for sidewalk and crosswalk improvements. Older volunteers from the community center will participate. Two community meetings will be held to discuss the audit results with residents and business owners. 

· Down East Family YMCA - Blue Hill Branch: The Tech Cafe will offer digital skills training and internet safety workshops for people age 50-plus. Participants will receive hands-on instruction, access to devices, and personalized support to build confidence in using technology. 

· Loon Echo Land Trust (Casco): Loon Echo Land Trust will upgrade the Mayberry Hill Preserve trail to make it accessible for older adults, young people, and families. The new 0.6-mile loop trail will feature ADA-compliant benches and a crushed gravel surface, enhancing outdoor recreation and community health. 

· Town of Cumberland: Active Living 55+: The project will provide two fat tire tricycles for older adults to use on Town Forest trails. These tricycles will offer a safe and inclusive way to enjoy outdoor activities, with staff support and mandatory safety talks. 

· Town of Danforth's Livable Communities: This project will enhance home assessments with safety modifications for residents age 65-plus living alone or with low income. Four educational meetings will be held in a tri-county rural region to show older adults and their families how to make homes safer, focusing on fall and injury prevention. 

· Town of Yarmouth: Yarmouth will test speed tables and crosswalk enhancements on five main corridors to slow drivers from high-speed rural roads. The project aims to improve safety for walkers and bikers by creating gateways into the village with better visibility and traffic calming measures. 

· Wilhelm Reich Museum (Rangeley): The Wilhelm Reich Museum will replace 200 feet of old bog bridging with new double-width cedar planks, add a resting bench at Quimby Brook, and install a picnic table in a trail meadow. These upgrades aim to make the trails safer and more accessible for older adults. 

The AARP 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 of all ages to participate in community life.

To learn more about the work being funded by the AARP Community Challenge both here in Maine 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 AARP Community Challenge grantees and members in the Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.