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

AARP announced eight organizations throughout Arizona 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 Arizona is committed to working with local leaders, advocates and policymakers to make our communities better places to live for Arizonans of all ages, especially those 50 and older,” said Dana Marie Kennedy, AARP AZ State Director. “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 Arizona, projects funded include:

• Fairview Place Neighborhood (Phoenix) - A retired general contractor will train older adult residents on home safety modifications. He will also suggest needed upgrades, such as bathroom grab bars, raised toilet seats and lighting, and help install them.
• Living Streets Alliance (Tucson) - This pilot program will allow community members to close local streets to vehicle traffic, creating a safe space for residents to gather outdoors. The small events are meant to be a miniature version of the community's biannual Cyclovita open streets festival.
• Promise Arizona (Phoenix) - This project will teach families enrolled in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program how to use digital tools. Training will focus on how to access health and emergency services, as well as do routine online activities, such as banking and purchasing tickets.
• Sun Sounds of Arizona (Tempe/Phoenix) - This initiative will upgrade six recording studios and one computer, which reading volunteers use to record information for people who cannot read print material due to a disability.
• Tiger Mountain Foundation (Phoenix) - This walk audit will identify potential safety improvements to crosswalks, lighting and pedestrian islands. The audit will help enhance accessibility, particularly for older adults.
• Valley Assistance Services (Green Valley) - This program will provide educational classes and home evaluations to older adults to help them safely age in place. Valley Assistance Services will also modify homes using AARP's HomeFit guide and distribute safety items to participants.
• Yavapai County Community Health Services (Cottonwood &Clarkdale) - The grantee will conduct bike audits to inform efforts to add safe bike lanes along Cottonwood’s roads. A high percentage of the city’s cyclists are age 50 or older.
• Yavapai County Community Health Services (Cottonwood & Clarkdale) - To offer a safe, convenient passage for commuters and recreational cyclists, this project will create a bike trail network. The grantee will install maps, signage and repair stations along the route.

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 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 helping people access high speed internet or protecting public transit riders from rain and snow, small community projects can have a big impact on people of all ages,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer. “AARP Community Challenge grantees make our commitment to creating better places to live a reality through quick, 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 Arizona has awarded thirty-six grants and $476,605 through the program to nonprofit organizations and government entities across the state.

AARP Community Challenge grant projects will be funded in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. True to the program’s quick-action nature, projects must be completed by December 15, 2024.

View the full list of grantees and their project descriptions at aarp.org/communitychallenge and learn more about AARP’s livable communities work at aarp.org/livable.