AARP Awards Grants to Seven Organizations in Oklahoma to Make Communities More Livable

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Seven organizations throughout Oklahoma will receive 2024 Community Challenge grants – part of AARP’s largest investment in communities to date, with $3.8 million awarded among 343 organizations nationwide.



Grantees will implement quick-action projects that help communities become more livable by improving public places, transportation, housing, digital connections, and more, with an emphasis on the needs of adults ages 50 and older.

“AARP Oklahoma is committed to working with local leaders, advocates and policymakers to make our communities better places to live for Oklahoma of all ages, especially those 50 and older,” said AARP Oklahoma interim Volunteer State President Joe Ann Vermillion. “We are proud to collaborate with this year’s grantees as they make immediate improvements to address long-standing and emerging challenges across our communities.”

Here in Oklahoma, projects funded include:

· Comanche Nation Elder Council - Lawton: This project will create a community garden where Comanche elders can grow vegetables and flowers. Gardeners will plan, tend and harvest their plots and distribute produce to the community.

· Food On the Move - Tulsa: This project will support operations at a community garden. The organization will provide older adult gardeners with accessibility assists, including knee pads and rolling chairs. Additionally, Food on the Move will launch nutrition education programming at the garden.

· Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa: This project will provide home safety upgrades to housebound older adults. Improvements include smoke detectors, handrail and grab bar installation, and modifications to accommodate wheelchairs.

· Town of Cole: The town will create two community storm shelters, which residents can use during tornados and severe weather. Many Cole residents are older adults and lack safe places to go during storms.

· Yukon 66 Main Street Association: This project will provide portable crosswalk signs for use during community events. Existing signals do not allow adequate time to cross; this will improve safety for older adults, people with disabilities and families with small children.

· Native American Fellowship, Inc. - South Coffeyville: This project will create a community vegetable garden to grow Cherokee heirloom plants. The garden will feature raised beds and seating to accommodate older residents.

· Town of Davenport: The town will provide portable generators and carbon monoxide detectors to older adult residents. The equipment will keep residents, especially those with electronic medical devices, supplied with power during storms and other disasters.

 This year, AARP awarded three different grant opportunities, including flagship grants, capacity-building microgrants for improving walkability, bikeability and accessible home modifications, and demonstration grants that focus on equitable engagement to reconnect communities, housing choice design competitions and improving digital connections to endure disasters.

With funding support from Toyota Motor North America, the Community Challenge Grant program is increasing its investment in pedestrian safety projects that will improve streets and sidewalks, create vibrant pedestrian infrastructure, engage community members and much more. AARP is also bolstering its investment in community resilience, rural communities, and addressing disparities.

“Whether it’s a community engagement project to promote safer streets or a park bench to provide residents a breather, small community projects can make a big impact for people of all ages,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer. “AARP’s Community Challenge grantees make our commitment to create better places to live nationwide a reality through quick, but innovative solutions.”

The grant program is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for people of all ages, with an emphasis on people ages 50 and older. Since 2017, AARP Oklahoma has awarded 29 grants and $397,110 through the program to nonprofit organizations and government entities across the state.