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AARP AARP States South Dakota Livable Communities

AARP Awards Community Grants to 6 South Dakota Organizations

ChallengeGrantees2021 - Announcement Video.mov

Communities across South Dakota are all working to become more livable for residents of all ages.

And, AARP SD is working 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 SD is incredibly proud to have a record 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 and as local leaders seek to better their communities for the future, this is even more critical.

Here in South Dakota, these exciting and diverse projects were funded:

  • City of Mission to transform a community park with a history of trauma into an intergenerational playground that will promote community healing.
  • St. Michael Parish to host an upstander training that will help participants identify biases and give them tools to create more inclusive and welcoming communities for diverse populations.
  • Red Cloud Indian School to increase tribal elders’ access to locally grown foods through their weekly farmer’s market and improve food sovereignty in the community.
  • Huron Housing Authority to add trees to a community dog park to enhance neighborhood desirability by providing attractive green spaces for the community to gather. .
  • West River Transit Authority, Inc to expand safe, reliable transportation service to Edgemont so citizen can reach vital services and purchase essentials from nearby communities.  
  • SDSU Extension to revitalize Hope Garden in Martin and create a community space that will bring people together

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 SD 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 SD’s livable communities work at aarp.org/livable.