2019 AARP Challenge Grant Winners in Maryland!

Communities across Maryland are working each and every day to become more livable for residents of all ages.

In support of that work, AARP is excited to be able to provide funding to organizations through the AARP Community Challenge, now in its third year. These “quick action” grants are being distributed to 159 organizations, with at least one in every state, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including right here in Maryland.

The Community Challenge grants fund innovative projects that can inspire change in areas such as transportation, open spaces, housing, smart cities and more.

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.

After funding 217 projects between 2017 and 2018, AARP has increased its investment to nearly $1.6 million for 159 projects this year. Here in Maryland, we are excited about the work that the Community Challenge Grants are supporting this year. Grantees include:

Fells Point Main Street (https://fellspointmainstreet.org/):

• Fells Point Main Street was awarded funding for their ‘Sunday in the Street’ initiative which will include a multitude of street vendors and family centered activities right in the heart of Fells Point. Streets will be closed during these events with new bollard style planters to provide a safe place for people of all ages to mill about and enjoy everything local Baltimore businesses have to offer in Fells Point.

The Baltimore Office of Information and Technology (https://technology.baltimorecity.gov/):

• The Baltimore Office of Information and Technology has been awarded funds to develop technological systems around a centralized online touch point, allowing residents and businesses to more easily utilize city services to improve their daily lives. They will begin designing surveys, conducting interviews, and focus groups to obtain feedback from residents and develop best practices in this newly designed platform.

“These are major steps forward in modernizing and connecting with community members to create a more engaging Charm City,” said AARP Maryland State Director Hank Greenberg. “Creating Livable Communities in digital and physical spaces allow for meaningful and positive neighborhood interactions for people of all ages and we are excited to see the results.”

To learn more about the work being funded by the AARP Community Challenge both here in Maryland as well as across the nation, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. And to learn more about how AARP is working to make communities across Maryland and across the U.S. more livable for all residents, visit aarp.org/livable.