AARP Community Challenge Announces 159 Grantees, Including One Indiana Recipient

Posted on 07/17/19

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Communities across Indiana 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, now in its third year. These “quick action” grants are being distributed to 159 organizations, with at least one in every state, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Community Challenge grants fund innovative projects that can inspire change in areas such as transportation, open spaces, housing, smart cities and more.

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.

After funding 217 projects between 2017 and 2018, AARP has increased its investment to nearly $1.6 million for 159 projects this year.

AARP Indiana is excited to announce that Bridge of Grace Compassionate Ministries Center (BGCMC) received an AARP grant of $30,000 to renovate public spaces in the Mount Vernon Park Neighborhood. BGCMC is the sole grant recipient in Indiana for the 2019 Community Challenge cycle.

Bridge of Grace Compassionate Ministries Center is a faith-based 501c3 tax exempt entity- founded in 2012 for the purpose of building thriving and sustainable neighborhoods in southeast Fort Wayne- particularly in the Mount Vernon Park Neighborhood, where BGCMC is based.

The Community Challenge grant will be used to expand the effort of making the Mount Vernon Park Neighborhood a more walkable, safe, and healthy community for residents of all ages, by:

· Installing improvements in neighborhood public spaces that celebrate the diversity, history and culture of the neighborhood. The improvements include landscaping, installation of two porch swings, and more than 55 banners that “Tell the story” of the neighborhood by showcasing community members’ portraits and sayings.

· Hosting community intergenerational community events.

To learn more about the work being funded by the AARP Community Challenge both here in Indiana as well as across the nation, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. And to learn more about how AARP is working to make communities across Indiana and across the U.S. more livable for all residents, visit aarp.org/livable.

This story is provided by AARP Indiana. Visit the AARP Indiana page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.

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