AARP Hearing Center

Combining $2,500 grants with additional resources (such as webinars, cohort learning opportunities, AARP publications, and up to two hours of direct coaching with leading national nonprofit organizations), this grant opportunity accepted applications for projects that benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older — in the following categories:
- Bike Audits: Implement bike audits to enhance safety and bikeability in communities, especially for people age 50-plus, with support from The League of American Bicyclists and by using the AARP Bike Audit Tool Kit.
- Walk Audits: Implement walk audit assessments to enhance safety and walkability in communities, especially for people age 50-plus, with support from America Walks and by using the AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit.
- Disaster Preparedness Training: Implement disaster preparedness training programs and resources for residents, especially those age 50-plus, with support from SBP and by using the AARP Disaster Resilience Tool Kit.
- HomeFit Guide Modifications: Implement education, simple home modifications and accessible safety solutions to create and maintain “lifelong homes,” especially for people age 50-plus, with support from the RL Mace Universal Design Institute and by using the AARP HomeFit Guide.
The following project descriptions were created using generative AI and were then reviewed by AARP staff. The grantee name appears in italics.
Grants Supporting Bike Audits
Arkansas
- North Little Rock: Women's Own Worth — This project will conduct at least four bike audits in North Little Rock. Older volunteers from local biking groups will be recruited for the audits.
California
- Imperial Beach: Imperial Beach Arts Bureau — This project will conduct four bike audits along the Bayshore Bikeway trail and major avenues, and hold four community meetings in English and Spanish.
- San Diego: Bike San Diego — The project will conduct a bike and walk audit along Fairmount Avenue to identify safety improvements. The focus will be on older adults, aiming to create a safer, more accessible corridor.
Illinois
- Brookfield: Cycle Brookfield — This project will conduct three bike audits of essential north-south routes across Brookfield to build a low-stress and safe bicycle network. The group will present their findings to the Village for implementation.
Maryland
- Baltimore: Mount Clare Community Council Inc. — This project will audit streets in and around Mount Clare frequented by active mobility users. Residents will be canvassed about their mobility needs to identify areas needing better cycling facilities.
Massachusetts
- Newburyport: Newburyport Livable Streets — This project will conduct bike audits on Low Street and High Street. Findings will be presented to the City's Traffic Safety Committee, in a public meeting, a written report, and on a website.
New Jersey
- Stockton: Delaware River Greenway Partnership — This project will conduct a bike audit along a 12-mile stretch of a Scenic Byway heavily used by cyclists. Audit results will be shared with municipalities, land managers, and the general public.
North Carolina
- Cherokee: Cherokee Historical Association — This project will conduct a bikeability assessment to improve safety and connectivity in the cultural district. The goal is to ensure safe routes for older adults and complement other projects in the area.
- Hickory: BikeWalk NC — This project will feature a bike audit workshop held during BikeWalk NC's 2025 Transportation Summit. Attendees will learn to identify safety improvements and routes for bicycling and other wheeled devices.
- Wake Forest: Town of Wake Forest — The project will conduct five bike audits over five months. Older volunteers will assist and present findings to the Town. Results will be included in the Age-Friendly Action Plan.
Ohio
- Kettering: Cycle Kettering Chapter of Bike Miami Valley — The project will conduct four bike audits, focusing on access for people age 50 or over to key destinations. Two community meetings will discuss the results with residents and city officials to guide future planning.
South Dakota
- Canton: Canton Chamber of Commerce — The project will conduct two bike audits, one in the city center to maximize safety and the other in the town's periphery to increase bike accessibility to the core.
Texas
- Taylor: Good Life Taylor — This project will conduct three bike audits with volunteers from Ride Taylor and senior fitness classes. The focus is on accessibility issues along the hike and bike trail and key destinations.
Vermont
- Rutland: Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports — The project will conduct bike audits throughout Vermont. Older volunteers will assess the safety, accessibility, and usability of bike paths. At least three audits will be conducted.
Grants Supporting Walk Audits
California
- Los Angeles: Los Angeles Walks — This project will lead walk audits in South LA neighborhoods to engage adults age 50 or over in exploring public spaces and identifying access barriers.
Colorado
- Denver: Denver Regional Mobility & Access Council — The project will conduct walk audits to assess and improve bus stop accessibility for older adults and individuals with disabilities.
- Denver: The Papagayo Organization Inc. — The project will conduct eight walk audits in a commercial district to identify sidewalk and crosswalk improvements. The project will also host two community meetings with participants and city officials.
District of Columbia
- Washington: Columbia Heights Village Tenants Association — This project will launch a community walkability and safety initiative to assess and improve pedestrian infrastructure. It aims to enhance mobility by identifying needed sidewalk and crosswalk improvements.
Indiana
- Evansville: Jacobsville Area Community Corporation — This project will involve a walk audit covering 63 blocks, 72 intersections and several trails to ensure safe, accessible routes for older adults. With 30 volunteers, the project will identify sidewalk issues to help prioritize repairs.
- Indianapolis: Community Heights Neighborhood Organization — This project will conduct four walk audits at nine intersections to identify sidewalk and crosswalk improvement needs. Older volunteers from senior housing will participate.
Maine
- Dover Foxcroft: Central Hall Commons — This project will conduct five walk audits to identify locations for sidewalk and crosswalk improvements. Two community meetings will be held to discuss the audit results with residents and business owners.