AARP Awards Grants to Seven Connecticut Organizations as Part of its Nationwide Program to Make Communities More Livable

AARP Connecticut announced seven organizations throughout the state 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 Connecticut is committed to working with local leaders, advocates and policymakers to make our communities better places to live for people of all ages, especially those 50 and older,” said Nora Duncan, AARP Connecticut 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 Connecticut, projects funded include:

• Bethel: Bethel Public Library
  The library will install an adaptive audio system, allowing people who are hard of hearing to listen to presentations using an app on their smartphone or smart device.
• Ellington: Town of Ellington
  The town will install a greenhouse at a senior center's garden, which grows produce for the local food pantry. The greenhouse will lengthen the growing season, enabling volunteers to garden during colder months.
• Fairfield: The Connecticut Audubon Society
  This project will construct an elevated, accessible boardwalk to give individuals with mobility challenges access to the popular Birds of Prey Compound.
• Fairfield: Fairfield Museum and History Center
  The museum will improve accessibility in its exhibit galleries to accommodate a wider array of visitors. Additions include closed-captioned videos, audio headsets, Spanish-language translation and large-print exhibit labels. 
• Manchester: Manchester Area Conferences of Churches Charities
  This project will transform five parking spaces into a community garden for six months each year. Three new raised garden beds will allow gardeners to grow fruit and vegetables for a food pantry and soup kitchen.
• Torrington: City of Torrington Police Department
  This project will make accessibility improvements to a crosswalk, making a busy intersection safer. The crossing connects residents to downtown amenities, parks, and transit routes.
• Vernon: Town of Vernon Senior Center
  This project will create a community garden at a senior center. Gardeners will grow fresh vegetables and herbs to supply the center’s breakfast and lunch programs.

In addition, community organizations and governments across the state will be able to apply for AARP Connecticut’s 2024 Livable Communities Support Program, a local extension of the national initiative. Now in its seventh year, the initiative dedicated to funding “quick-action” projects in Connecticut communities, will begin accepting applications from July 1 until August 16. People can email CTLivable@aarp.org with questions or for more information.

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 Connecticut has awarded 27 grants and more than $272,000 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.