Livable Communities

A new electric trishaw for a nonprofit in Iowa City, Iowa, a ride-on-demand program for older adults in Hutchinson, Minnesota, and digital literacy classes for residents in multiple Kentucky locales are among the projects funded by 2025 AARP Community Challenge grants.

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.

In too many communities across Minnesota, people can’t safely walk to where they need or want to go due to a lack sidewalks, crosswalks or other safety features that make streets safe for pedestrians and drivers.

Do you have an idea to make your community more age-friendly? The Age-Friendly Minnesota Council announced its second round of Community Grants, offering up to $80,000, in support of projects that strengthen and improve communities for people of all ages, including older adults. Applications are due Friday, November 8, 2024, before 4:00 p.m. CT., and the funding period is expected to run from February 2025 through March 2026.

AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities

Community Call to Action: Help make Wabasha-Kellogg a more livable place for people of all ages! Wabasha-Kellogg is enrolled in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, and the local committee is in the assessment phase, collecting feedback from residents like you. Community feedback will help them prioritize opportunities to support their goal of making their community a great place to live, work, and play through all life stages. Your participation in this brief survey will help them determine what areas of age-friendly livability are most important to you.

Five communities across Minnesota are getting a boost in their work to become more livable for residents of all ages through the AARP Community Challenge Grants.

A walking program, organized by Age-Friendly Northfield, aims to support healthier living for people of all ages. It's one of many projects and activities in the state focused on making Minnesota more age-friendly.

We know that it takes time to build great communities, but we also believe that tangible improvements can spark long-term change. AARP launched the Community Challenge grant program in 2017 to fund projects that build momentum to improve livability nationwide. We are excited to announce that the program is back for its ninth year and is currently accepting applications online through March 5, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. CT.

AARP invests in communities across Minnesota through eight organizations as part of nationwide grant program.