AARP Eye Center
Communities across South Dakota are working each and every day to become more livable for residents of all ages.
In support of that work, AARP is excited to be able to provide funding to organizations through the AARP Community Challenge to help them jumpstart progress on ongoing work. These “quick action” grants are being distributed to 129 organizations, with at least one in every state, Washington D.C, and Puerto Rico - including two programs right here in South Dakota! The Community Challenge grants provide communities with the chance to fund innovative projects that can inspire change in areas such as transportation, open spaces and housing, as well as other innovative projects that would improve the community and make SD's counties, cities, towns and rural areas better places for all South Dakotans.
The Community Challenge is part of AARP’s work on livable communities, which supports the efforts of neighborhoods across the country 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.
After a successful 2017, with 90 grantees, this initiative is now in its 2 nd year, and it has increased its investment to over $1.3 million in the form of 129 grants.
Here in South Dakota, we are excited about the work that the Community Challenge Grants are supporting in 2018. They include projects by the City of Vermillion and LiveWell Sioux Falls to increase livability and accessibility in public spaces! Vermillion will be renovating and updating the horseshoe pits in Prentis Park and Sioux Falls will be adding benches, bike maintenance stations and wheelchair charging stations along the city's bike trail.
To learn more about the work being funded by the AARP Community Challenge grant program both here in South Dakota as well as across the nation, visit us at aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. And to learn more about how AARP is working to make communities across South Dakota and across the U.S. more livable for all residents, visit aarp.org/livable.