AARP Awards Grants to Five New Mexico Organizations to Help Make Communities More Livable
AARP recently announced that five organizations from across New Mexico will receive 2024 Community Challenge grants. This is part of AARP’s largest investment in communities to date with $3.8 million awarded among 343 organizations nationwide through the AARP Community Challenge grant program.
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 New Mexico is incredibly proud to have five projects right here in our state that will receive critical funding to help move their goals forward,” said Joseph Roybal-Sanchez, AARP New Mexico State Director. “Our goal is to support their efforts to create great places for people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities to live their best lives.”
“AARP knows that people want to age in place, in their communities and neighborhoods, the place they call home. In order to make that happen we need to make our communities accessible and of service to people of all ages. These grants are steps in that direction,” Roybal-Sanchez said.
The program is funding projects across three different grant opportunities, including flagship grants, capacity-building microgrants, and demonstration grants.
New Mexico projects funded include:
· Wilson Middle School, Albuquerque -- This intergenerational project will launch a Safe Routes to School program by hiring community members to escort children on their walk to school.
· La Union Helping Hands, La Union -- This project will install solar-powered lighting along a community center’s walking trail to improve safety and allow people to gather and walk after dark. The organization will also lay crushed rock to prevent soil erosion.
· Bike Santa Fe, Santa Fe -- A series of bike audits will evaluate safety and accessibility at intersections and along city streets. The findings will help improve connections to multiuse trails, since many streets lack well-maintained, protected bike lanes.
· Northwest New Mexico Arts Council, Aztec -- This project will create a flower and vegetable garden with raised planting beds. Located at a restored historic building, the space will also include seating for community events.
· Not Forgotten Outreach Inc., Taos, -- This project will upgrade a farm that hosts agricultural and therapeutic activities for military veterans and other residents. The organization will install an ADA-compliant walking trail, add tables and benches and restore a wetland area.
The AARP Community Challenge funds innovative projects that inspire change in areas such as public places; housing; transportation; and more. In 2024, AARP is bolstering its investment in digital connectivity, community resilience, rural communities, and addressing disparities. With additional funding support provided by Toyota Motor North America, the program is also increasing its investment in pedestrian safety projects that will improve streets and sidewalks, create vibrant pedestrian infrastructure, engage community members and much more.
The Community Challenge grant program 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 New Mexico, as well as, across the nation, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. You can also view the AARP Livable Communities Map – a free, interactive tool with information on the more than 1,700 AARP Community Challenge grantees and more than 800 members in the Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.
