AARP Awards Grants to Eight Organizations as Part of its Nationwide Program to Make Communities More Livable

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

AARP is working in partnership with local leaders, organizations and dedicated residents to help make that vision a reality. As part of that effort, AARP is excited to announce the largest investment of grant dollars to date through the Community Challenge grant program. More than $3.6 million in quick-action grants are being distributed to 310 organizations across all 50 states, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The AARP Community Challenge funds innovative projects that inspire change in areas such as public places; housing; transportation; diversity, equity, and inclusion; digital connections; community resilience; and more.

This year, AARP is also bolstering its investment in rural communities, mobility innovation, transportation options, and health and food access. The program accepted applications across three different grant opportunities, including existing flagship grants in addition to new capacity-building microgrants for improving walkability and community gardens. New demonstration grants will focus on improving transportation systems, with funding support provided by Toyota Motor North America, and housing choice design competitions.

AARP New Jersey is incredibly proud to have eight 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. As local leaders seek to better their communities for the future, this becomes even more critical.

Here in New Jersey, these exciting and diverse projects were funded:

• Borough of Glen Rock will conduct walk audits to enhance safety and walkability for all residents.
• Borough of Morris Plains will install a crosswalk that will promote safety, walkability and accessibility.
• Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey will provide medical transportation services to older adults.
• FAF Coalition will create a free, public space in Woodbury for residents of all ages to connect.
• Montclair Gateway to Aging In Place (mGAP) will promote accessible housing by organizing an ADU design competition.
• Northern New Jersey Community Foundation will support initiatives to mitigate flooding in Hackensack.
• Trust for Public Land will expand intergenerational access to its community garden program in Newark.
• Unstoppable Girls Foundation will create an intergenerational gardening project in Newark.
  

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 in New Jersey 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 Jersey's livable communities work at aarp.org/livable.