Seven West Virginia Projects Among Those Receiving AARP Community Challenge Grant Awards

AARP West Virginia has announced seven state winners for the 2024 AARP Community Challenge, aiming to create change and improve quality of life at the community-level.

Nationally, AARP Community Challenge grants totaling $3.8 million, part of AARP’s largest investment to date, have been awarded among 343 organizations to support projects that make communities livable for people of all ages.

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 age 50 and over. Each project was partially or fully funded through the AARP Community Challenge grant and is set to be completed by December 15, 2024.

“AARP West Virginia is committed to working with local leaders, advocates and policy makers to make our communities better places to live for West Virginians of all ages,” shared AARP West Virginia State Director Gaylene Miller. “We are proud to collaborate with this year’s grantees as they make immediate improvements in their communities to address long-standing and emerging challenges.”

West Virginia community projects receiving 2024 AARP Community Challenge Grant Awards include:

Braxton & Clay Counties
Elk River Trail Foundation Inc.  | Elk River Trail Enhancements
Grant funds will be used to purchase and install benches at approximately one-mile intervals along trails in the communities of Gassaway, Frametown and Clay, adding new seating areas to existing benches that have proven popular with older hikers and users of the trail system.

Jefferson County
Ranson Community Gardens | Ranson Community Garden Project and Trail Improvements
Grant funds will be used to add heritage apple trees to a community garden in the Town of Ranson, activating an unused space in the flood plain. Once planted, a trail with seating will connect the new orchard to the existing community garden and an indoor walking patch popular with older adults. 

Kanawha County
Heart+Hand Outreach Ministries | Digital Connectivity For Disaster Preparedness
Grant funds will be used to enhance digital connectivity for older adults in disaster preparedness. Solar-powered chargers and emergency preparedness packs will be packaged and distributed to older adults, along with the delivery of internet skills training to expand access to disaster relief resources.    

Lewis County
Lewis County Commission | Lewis County Blueprint Community
Grant funds will be used support the completion of walk audits to evaluate pedestrian safety conditions along two busy roads connecting a senior center with a commercial area. Audit findings will be shared with the community and used in the development of infrastructure improvements to enhance walkability.

Ohio County
Lions Foundation of Ohio County/Ohio County Virtual Lions | Community Garden Project
Grant funds will be used to develop a community garden project on a vacant lot near older adult housing and a retirement community. The garden will include raised beds for growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

Preston County
Arthurdale Heritage Inc. | Arthurdale Community Enhancements
Grant funds will be used to add outdoor amenities near several historic buildings dating to the 1930s. Community improvements will include sidewalk repairs, installation of benches, trash bins, a bike rack, and pet-friendly amenities.

Town Of Reedsville | Reedsville Town Park Enhancements
Grant funds will be used to purchase and install an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant water fountain in Town Park as part of continuing renovations to the community’s recreation facilities.

This year, the AARP Community Challenge accepted applications across 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 Community Challenge 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 West Virginia has awarded 28 grants totaling more than $250,000 through the program to nonprofit organizations and government entities across the Mountain State.

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

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AARP WV Media Contact:
Tom Hunter, Associate State Director-Communications
tphunter@aarp.org, 304-340-4605