AARP invests in communities across North Dakota through six organizations as part of nationwide grant program 

Communities across North Dakota 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 North Dakota is incredibly proud to have six 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 North Dakota, these exciting and diverse projects were funded:

• The Munich Area Development Corporation will transition the town’s local nonprofit grocery store, which provides fresh, affordable food to local residents, to a self-service operation. This will enable individuals within the community to access groceries at almost any time.
• Grand Forks Downtown Development Association is adding e-bikes and adaptive bikes to the Grand Rides Bike Share program to encourage ridership among people aged 50+.
• Glen Ullin Park District will install permanent cornhole boards in outdoor public spaces giving residents of all ages a place to enjoy the popular game.
• The City of Milnor is installing adult exercise equipment in a local playground to create an intergenerational space that offers a wide range of activities for people of all ages and capabilities.
• The City of Forman is moving the city’s existing community garden to a more accessible location. The relocation also will co-locate the garden with recently planted fruit trees and expand the garden to offer more beds for people interested in growing their own food.
• The Grand Forks University Park Neighborhoods will use the grant to pair students with with older residents. The students will help with chores such as yard cleanup, window washing and simple home repairs, while the older residents will mentor the students in home repair and upkeep, billpaying, navigating relationships with landlords and other practical life skills.

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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota’s livable communities work at aarp.org/livable.