WASHINGTON—The American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) announced it has invested $8.3 million in the Community Challenge grant program. The program supports 750 quick-action projects that aim to make communities more livable for people of all ages through home modifications and aging in place solutions. Marking the program’s 10th anniversary, AARP said the investment doubles last year’s total and will fund improvements to public spaces, transportation, housing, digital connectivity, disaster preparedness and other local priorities.
AARP said new research highlights the important role social connection plays in community wellbeing. Among residents who say their communities have improved, 44% credit a stronger sense of community and social connection, while 36% of those who say their communities have declined point to weaker social connection.
“America is aging, and most older adults want to stay in the communities they know and love," said Nancy LeaMond, executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer for AARP. "There are a lot of things that localities can do to support residents of all ages. AARP Community Challenge grants help transform local ideas into real improvements—from safer sidewalks and improved transportation options to public spaces that bring neighbors together and enhance community connections. As we celebrate the program’s 10th year, we’re proud to double our investment so even more communities can become great places to live for people at all stages of life.”
The 2026 projects include:
- One hundred sixteen housing grants will fund home modifications, home-sharing programs, accessory dwelling units and other aging-in-place solutions.
- Nearly half of funded projects will support rural communities.
- Two hundred eighty-six grants will improve public spaces, including walking paths, seating, gathering areas and accessibility improvements.
- One hundred ninety-eight transportation grants will support pedestrian safety, transit access and transit education for older adults.
- Eighty-four disaster resilience grants will support emergency preparedness, cooling centers, weather radios and other community resources for extreme weather events.
Since 2017, AARP has awarded more than 2,800 grants totaling $32.6 million, benefiting nearly 14 million people age 50-plus. Past projects have resulted in more than 55,000 tangible improvements, from benches and bike racks to trails and accessibility upgrades, along with 12,000 programs, including transit navigation and digital skills training.
This year’s grant projects include:
- Charlotte, North Carolina: Providing hands-on workshops and guided practice rides to help adults over the age of 50 navigate public transportation systems.
- Reno, Nevada: Launching a home-sharing pilot that matches older adults with renters seeking affordable housing, helping support aging in place and financial stability.
- Ortonville, Michigan: Expanding free public Wi-Fi and digital access downtown while offering workshops to help older adults connect online to healthcare and community resources.
- Shawnee, Oklahoma: Hosting disaster preparedness trainings for older adults of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, including transportation support, weather radios and emergency readiness tools.
AARP Community Challenge grant projects will be funded in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Some pedestrian safety initiatives will be funded with support from Toyota Motor North America, and projects that expand high-speed internet access and adoption will be funded with support from Microsoft.