AARP investing $66,000 in Minnesota communities as part of nationwide grant program

Six communities throughout Minnesota will receive 2025 Community Challenge grants. The grants are part of AARP’s $4.2 million commitment to fund quick-action projects aimed at making communities more livable for people of all ages, with a focus on the needs of older adults. The AARP Community Challenge funds innovative projects that inspire change in areas such as public places; housing; transportation; and more.

Now in its ninth year, the Challenge has awarded $558,589 through 45 grants in Minnesota since 2017 to nonprofit organizations and local government entities across the state. Grant projects will be funded in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

AARP Minnesota is incredibly proud to have six 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.

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

FLAGSHIP GRANTS

• Parents Inspired, $16,000. Parents Inspired will pilot an on-demand transportation program for older adults age 50 and over and disabled individuals in Hutchinson, MN. The service will prioritize medical appointments and offer non-medical rides based on driver availability, enhancing mobility and access to essential services within a 25-mile radius.
• Mahnomen County, $15,000. Mahnomen will upgrade the Senior Living Center to improve accessibility for residents aged 50 and older. The project includes a wider doorway, ramp, and automatic door opener to ensure safer, more inclusive access for those with mobility challenges.
• City of Newfolden, $15,000. The City of Newfolden will create an outdoor gathering area at the Newfolden Community and Senior Center. The space will feature accessible seating, planting areas, and tablescapes to promote intergenerational gathering and inclusivity for all mobility needs.
• City of Sleepy Eye, $15,000. The project will create walkable access and rest areas connecting the senior center, museum, Chief Sleepy Eye Monument, Veterans Park, and local shops. It will include benches, trash receptacles, flowerpots, and a mural, enhancing accessibility and aesthetics for all visitors.

MICRO GRANTS

• North East Seniors for Better Living (St. Paul), $2,500. North East Seniors will have staff visit the homes of older adults in need to provide small-scale repairs and make safety improvements. Staff will also help older adults find community services such as rides, chore help, and in-home nursing to ensure they remain healthy and comfortable in their homes.
• Progressive Pathways (Minneapolis), $2,500. This project will conduct six sessions at various locations to prepare for summer storms and flooding. Informational magnets, checklists, and supplies will be distributed. Somali interpretation will be provided for sessions and materials.

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.

AARP Minnesota Age-Friendly Hub

Learn more about the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities in Minnesota.

To learn more about the work being funded by the AARP Community Challenge both here in Minnesota 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.