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The Demonstration Grant Grantees

38 project grants in support of pedestrian safety, high-speed internet and housing design

2026 AARP Community Challenge: The Demonstration Grant Grantees

AARP Community Challenge Demonstration Grants encourage the replication of promising projects.

Applications were accepted in three categories:

High-Speed Internet: Increase broadband access and adoption. Funding support from Microsoft.

Housing Design Competitions: Promote understanding and implementation of housing policies that support a variety of community needs using the AARP Housing Design Competition Tool Kit.

Pedestrian Safety: Improve the safety of streets and sidewalks. Funding support from Toyota Motor North America.

The following project descriptions were created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy. The grantee name appears in italics.

1. Grants in Support of High-Speed Internet

ARIZONA

Green Valley: Pima County Office of Digital Inclusion — The program will provide devices and one-on-one digital navigator support in Green Valley. Older adults will build skills to use online services and maintain independence.

IDAHO

Stites: Prairie River Library District — The library will lend Wi-Fi hotspots and devices through secure pickup lockers in Stites. Local support will help residents get online for health care and communication.

IOWA

Des Moines: Oakridge Neighborhood Services — The project will create a computer lab, provide small group digital training onsite, and facilitate access to Wi-Fi enabled devices. Older residents will learn online skills, avoid scams and connect with family and services.

MICHIGAN

Ortonville: Ortonville Downtown Development Authority — The project will add free public Wi-Fi and age-friendly digital access along Mill Street. Workshops will help older adults connect to health care and community life online.

NORTH CAROLINA

New Bern: Peletah Ministries — The program will train older rural residents to use internet tools before and after storms. Participants will gain skills for alerts, telehealth visits and recovery assistance.

OHIO

Columbus: National Church Residences Foundation — The program will deliver hands-on digital skills classes at senior housing properties. Residents will gain confidence using devices to access services, remain independent, and stay socially connected.

TEXAS

Dale: Dale Community Center — The center will install free public Wi-Fi and offer bilingual internet safety classes for older adults. Residents will use online tools for health, benefits and family connection while learning safe habits.

WISCONSIN

Milwaukee: Sherman Park Community Association — The project will offer internet access and basic computer classes for residents age 50-plus at a community hub. Older residents will gain digital skills while connecting to food and local resources.

Racine: Racine Kenosha Community Action Agency — The project will provide devices and hands-on digital training for adults age 50 or over. Participants will use online tools to access health care and essential services and stay connected.

WYOMING

Cheyenne: Laramie County Senior Services Inc. — The senior center will expand digital education programs using shared devices and guided instruction. Participants will build confidence using online tools for health, safety and communication.

2. Grants in Support of Housing Design Competitions

ARIZONA

Tucson: City of Tucson Planning and Development Services Department — A middle housing design competition will expand the city library of housing plans. The effort will increase access to smaller, age-friendly housing options.

COLORADO

Fort Collins: Colorado State University Institute for the Built Environment — A design challenge will produce build-ready, age-friendly ADU plans for public use. The plans will guide adaptable housing for older residents.

IOWA

Cedar Rapids: City of Cedar Rapids — A citywide ADU design competition will focus on universal design and education. The project will increase awareness of housing options that support aging in place.

MASSACHUSETTS

Newton: City of Newton Planning Department — Newton will create a permit-ready ADU design library with pre-approved plans reviewed by city staff. The library will lower design costs and simplify permits so residents can add accessible homes for family, caregivers or rental use.

MICHIGAN

Detroit: Genesis Harbor of Opportunities Promoting Excellence — A community-led ADU design process will produce a practical model plan guide. The guide will support older residents seeking flexible housing choices.

MINNESOTA

Bemidji: Headwaters Regional Development Commission — A regional housing design competition will highlight age-friendly, build-ready home models. The work will support safer aging in place across northern communities.

MONTANA

Missoula: Front Step Community Land Trust — A community housing design competition will follow recent zoning changes to create buildable home concepts. The designs will help residents explore aging-in-place options.

NEVADA

Henderson: City of Henderson — A housing design challenge will create mixed-use, transit-oriented concepts for city land. The ideas will show how age-friendly homes support aging in place, walkability, transit access and community connection.

NEW MEXICO

Albuquerque: City of Albuquerque Foundation — A missing middle housing design competition will feature public charrettes and small-infill design concepts. The effort will build understanding of age-friendly housing in neighborhoods.

OREGON

Portland: Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Coalition — An aging-in-place guide and video will be created from proven housing examples. The materials will help neighborhoods explore local housing options.

PENNSYLVANIA

Meadville: Common Roots — A design competition suitable for ADU housing options will be hosted. Suitable designs will be published, allowing these efforts will help residents offset costs and age in place.

RHODE ISLAND

Statewide: State of Rhode Island Executive Office of Housing — A statewide ADU design competition will produce pre-approved housing plans. The options will reduce costs and support increased housing choices for older adults.

TEXAS

Alpine: Alpine Community Projects — A design competition will create pre-approved universal design ADU models for backyard housing. The models will help families support independent living and expand flexible housing options.

3. Grants in Support of Pedestrian Safety

ALABAMA

Madison: City of Madison — Madison will replace 77 damaged sidewalk warning mats at busy street crossings. New stable surfaces will reduce tripping hazards and help people using mobility aids cross streets safely.

ARIZONA

Mesa: Downtown Mesa Association — The project will install lighting to transform a dark downtown alley into a clear pedestrian path. Improved visibility will reduce fall risk and support safer evening access to nearby businesses.

Phoenix: Northtown HOA — The project will install ADA compliant curb ramps throughout an age 55-plus residential community. Safer street crossings will reduce falls and improve access to neighborhood amenities.

CALIFORNIA

Long Beach: Long Beach Fresh — The project will add signs, crossings, seating and events along the Santa Fe Avenue corridor. These improvements will make walking safer and help residents reach food and community destinations.

GEORGIA

Atlanta: Morehouse School of Medicine — The project will install temporary safety features on high risk streets in southwest Atlanta. Collected data and resident input will support future permanent pedestrian improvements.

INDIANA

Huntingburg: City of Huntingburg — Huntingburg will deploy a portable radar speed sign along several high-crash pedestrian corridors. Slower vehicle speeds and traffic data will help protect people walking to essential destinations.

Montgomery: Town of Montgomery — The town will construct a missing sidewalk segment along a busy curve on Highway 50. A continuous path will allow residents to walk safely between neighborhoods and downtown.

KENTUCKY

Morehead: City of Morehead — The city will permanently install traffic calming features tested during a downtown pilot project. Safer crossings and improved visibility will help people visit restaurants, shops and venues with greater confidence.

MISSISSIPPI

Saltillo: Saltillo Main Street — The city will extend sidewalks from a recent downtown rebuild into nearby blocks. Continuous walkways will improve safety and strengthen access to local businesses.

NORTH CAROLINA

Chapel Hill: Town of Chapel Hill — The town will install a marked crosswalk with flashing signals, lighting and ADA-compliant curb ramps. The improvements will support safer access to nearby housing and transit stops.

Liberty: Town of Liberty — The project will build a looped sidewalk connecting parking areas to a new bandshell in Freedom Park. The walkway will provide safe and accessible access to park activities for all users.

TENNESSEE

Clarksville: Replant Clarksville — The project will add safer crossings, shade and traffic calming near schools, the senior center and civic buildings. Improved routes will help residents walk to essential services more safely.

Jackson: City of Jackson — The city will install safer crosswalks at two locations with heavy pedestrian activity. Improved visibility will reduce risk for people accessing clinics, parks, bus stops and downtown businesses.

TEXAS

Dallas: Better Block — The project will install temporary crossings, curb extensions and traffic calming elements at a Dallas intersection. These changes will make it safer to walk to bus stops and parks and will guide future permanent street upgrades.

San Antonio: Hemisfair Conservancy — The project will improve lighting along walkways throughout Tower Park. Better visibility will reduce fall risk and help people feel safer walking during evening hours.