Montana League of Cities and Towns Takes Steps Toward “Age-Friendly” Designations for Communities Across Montana

Strategic Partnership to Benefit Communities across Montana and Support all Generations

Sandra Jones, President of the Montana League of Cities and Towns (the League) and Tim Summers, AARP Montana State Director are pleased to announce the League has endorsed AARP Montana to support communities working to become more livable for residents of all ages.

“As our population continues to age and as people stay healthy and active longer, we recognize the importance of promoting age-friendly planning and policies to address changing demographics and to enhance independent living,” said Summers.

As age-friendly communities, Montana communities enjoy additional benefits from AARP including in-kind technical assistance; online resources; access to AARP subject matter experts on age-friendly policies and issues; toolkits for community outreach and education; volunteer support; and engagement of our AARP members.

Over 430 communities serving more than 60 million people have become part of AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities nationwide. In Montana, the City of Bozeman and Carbon County have already joined the Age Friendly Network.

“Designation as an Age-Friendly Community commits communities to a process of continual improvement to support active and healthy aging and to sustain economic and social vitality. We believe that if a community is age friendly, it is friendly to all ages,” concluded Summers.

“Creating age-friendly, livable communities with walkable streets, safe and affordable housing, transportation and access to services will ensure that Montana people of all ages contribute to our state while living with dignity and comfort in the homes and communities they love,” said Jones. “The League is thrilled to connect Montana cities and towns to critical data, technical advice, best practices and organizing tools to help us plan for the future in a thoughtful way and learn from a global network of partners to better serve older Montanans.”

“The support of AARP will ignite important partnerships at every level from our smallest communities to government agencies, and will make Montana an even better place to live for people of all ages,” Jones concluded. “Together with leaders from across the state, Montana can be the best place to live, work, play, and retire.”

Link to Montana League of Cities and Towns Resolution:

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About the League:

The Montana League of Cities and Towns is an incorporated, nonpartisan, nonprofit association of 127 Montana municipalities. Organized under a constitution originally adopted in 1931, the League has as its sole purpose the cooperative improvement of municipal government in Montana. It acts as a clearinghouse through which the municipalities cooperate for their mutual benefit.

Major policies are determined by vote of the delegates at the annual conference, implemented by an 18 member governing body elected and appointed from among the city and town delegates. The League serves as an advisory body in contacts between municipal officials and state and federal governments. By cooperating through the League the municipalities provide for themselves a research program and a legislative voice which would be impossible for any of them individually.


About AARP Montana:

For nearly 50 years, AARP has been working right here in big sky country to improve the lives of the 50 plus. By fighting on issues that matter most to Montana families and providing trusted information, we’re helping Montanans live life to the fullest. Today, nearly 150,000 strong, AARP Montana is the largest membership organization in the state. As a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political action committees, campaigns or candidates.

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