Five Granite State Organizations Receive AARP Community Challenge Grants

Communities across New Hampshire are all working to become more livable for residents of all ages.

And, AARP is working across the Granite State in partnership with local leaders, organization and dedicated residents to help make that vision a reality. As part of that effort, AARP is excited to announce the largest number of projects to-date through the Community Challenge program. These quick-action grants are being distributed to 244 organizations across all 50 states, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Community Challenge funds innovative projects that inspire change in areas such as transportation, public spaces, housing, diversity and inclusion, civic engagement, coronavirus response and more.

AARP New Hampshire is incredibly proud to have five grantees right here in our state. Our goal is to support their efforts to create great places for people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities and as local leaders seek to better their communities for the future, this is even more critical.

Here in New Hampshire, these exciting and diverse projects were funded with grants totaling $35,500:

• The Nature Conservancy (Manchester, NH)-- Build an All Persons Trail at the 640-acre Manchester Cedar Swamp with the goal of introducing this hidden ecological gem to visitors of all abilities and comfort levels.
  
• Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail (Coos County): Install benches at various lengths from trailheads along the Presidential Rail Trail in the Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge, which will provide scenic destination goals to entice visitors to access by a walk, a bike or skis.
  
• Regenerative Roots Association (Hudson, NH): Transform underutilized spaces into active community farms which act as hubs for social interaction, sustainable food production, educational opportunities and community events for a diverse group of program participants.
  
• Town of Newport, NH: Provide 48 recreational wayfaring signs and five new trail kiosks to increase and improve safe usage of the Town’s trail system by users of all ages and abilities.
  
• Great Bay Stewards (Greenland, NH): Develop an existing accessible garden area at the Great Bay Discovery Center, creating an interactive sculpture, sensory garden, and handicap-accessible play structures.

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.

To learn more about the work being funded by the AARP Community Challenge both here in New Hampshire as well as across the nation, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. You can also view an interactive map of all of the Community Challenge projects and AARP New Hampshire’s livable communities work at aarp.org/livable.