AARP Hearing Center
AARP is proud to announce the 10-year anniversary of the AARP Community Challenge, a decade-long effort to accelerate community improvements through quick-action grants. To make this milestone – and in response to high demand – AARP has doubled the size of the program in 2026, enabling us to support more communities and more high-impact local projects than ever before.
In 2026, $8.3 million in quick-action grants are being awarded to 750 projects across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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The AARP Community Challenge supports innovative projects that create immediate change while paving the way for long-term improvements. Grants focus on priority areas including public places, housing, transportation, digital connectivity, and more.
Additional 2026 program funders include:
- Toyota Motor North America, supporting pedestrian safety initiatives to improve streets and sidewalks nationwide.
- Microsoft, funding digital connections projects that expand high-speed internet access and promote broadband adoption.
Here in Colorado, AARP is thrilled to support 13 projects that are helping to create great places for people of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities. As local leaders work to create more livable communities, these grants provide essential support – especially in areas where small, flexible investments can lead to big change.
The 2026 program includes three grant types:
- Flagship Grants
- Capacity-Building Microgrants
- Demonstration Grants
2026 Grantees in Colorado Include:
- North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization, $15,000 (Greeley) – Real-time coordination tools and an emergency ride fund will be added to a regional mobility platform. These upgrades will reduce missed medical trips and uncertainty.
- Denver Regional Mobility & Access Council, $15,000 – Expanded travel training and a regional assistance call center will be provided to older adults. Participants will gain skills to plan trips and use transportation options.
- Town of Kiowa, $15,000 – Clear wayfinding signage will be installed to guide pedestrians and drivers to civic sites. The signage will support walkability and independent navigation.
- Age-Friendly Carbondale, $2,500 – Trained volunteers will share fire preparedness materials at ten community events during the summer and early fall. Residents will receive clear guidance and supplies to support safer responses to wildfires and other emergencies.
- Sedgwick County Organized Recreation, $14,055 (Julesburg) – An ADA accessible garden and fitness equipment for older adults will be added to a community center. These features will support physical activity and intergenerational engagement.
- Rio Grande Hospital, $15,000 (Del Norte) – Benches and wellness stations will be added along an existing walking route. The enhancements will support rest, movement and social connection outdoors.
- Healthy Archuleta, $15,000 (Pagosa Springs) – Pathway upgrades, seating and shade will be added at a community garden site. These improvements will make the garden safer to use and offer hands-on activities that support food access.
- Montbello 2020 & Beyond, $15,000 (Denver) – Technology upgrades and expanded computer classes will enhance a learning center for older adults. Participants will better manage personal projects and digital tasks.
- North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization, $2,500 (Milliken) – Bilingual walk audits and placemaking activities will examine walkability in rural Milliken. Community input will guide improvements that support safer movement for older adults.
- Colorado State University Institute for the Built Environment, $24,800 (Fort Collins) – A design challenge will produce build-ready, age-friendly ADU plans for public use. The plans will guide adaptable housing for older residents.
- City of Craig, $15,000 – Four lighted pickleball courts will be constructed at Woodbury Park. The facility will provide safe recreation and encourage multigenerational activity.
- Focus Points Family Resource Center, $15,000 (Denver) – Digital literacy workshops and transit training will be expanded for older adults in nearby neighborhoods. Participants will gain confidence using technology and transportation options.
- City of Fort Collins, $14,220 – Hands-on workshops will cover rental property care, safety and communication skills. Participants will gain practical knowledge and strengthen landlord-tenant relations.
The AARP Community Challenge is part of AARP’s broader Livable Communities initiative, which supports neighborhoods, towns, cities, and counties in becoming great places for all residents. A livable community is one where people of all ages can thrive, with:
- Safe, walkable streets
- Affordable and accessible housing and transportation
- Access to essential services
- Opportunities for people of all ages to engage in community life
To learn more about the AARP Community Challenge – here in Colorado and nationwide – visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. You can also explore the AARP Livable Communities Map, an interactive tool featuring AARP Community Challenge grantees and members of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.
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