AARP Awards Grants to Seven Connecticut Organizations as Part of its Nationwide Program to Make Communities More Livable

AARP Connecticut announced seven organizations throughout the state will receive 2024 Community Challenge grants – part of AARP’s largest investment in communities to date with $3.8 million awarded among 343 organizations nationwide. 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 ages 50 and older.

“AARP Connecticut is committed to working with local leaders, advocates and policymakers to make our communities better places to live for people of all ages, especially those 50 and older,” said Nora Duncan, AARP Connecticut State Director. “We are proud to collaborate with this year’s grantees as they make immediate improvements to address long-standing and emerging challenges across our communities.”

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Here in Connecticut, projects funded include:

• Bethel Public Library: The library will install an adaptive audio system, allowing people who are hard of hearing to listen to presentations using an app on their smartphone or smart device.
• Town of Ellington: The town will install a greenhouse at a senior center's garden, which grows produce for the local food pantry. The greenhouse will lengthen the growing season, enabling volunteers to garden during colder months.
• The Connecticut Audubon Society: This project will construct an elevated, accessible boardwalk to give individuals with mobility challenges access to the popular Birds of Prey Compound.
• Fairfield Museum and History Center: The museum will improve accessibility in its exhibit galleries to accommodate a wider array of visitors. Additions include closed-captioned videos, audio headsets, Spanish-language translation and large-print exhibit labels. 
• Manchester Area Conferences of Churches Charities: This project will transform five parking spaces into a community garden for six months each year. Three new raised garden beds will allow gardeners to grow fruit and vegetables for a food pantry and soup kitchen.
• City of Torrington Police Department: This project will make accessibility improvements to a crosswalk, making a busy intersection safer. The crossing connects residents to downtown amenities, parks, and transit routes.
• Town of Vernon Senior Center: This project will create a community garden at a senior center. Gardeners will grow fresh vegetables and herbs to supply the center’s breakfast and lunch programs.

In addition, community organizations and governments across the state will be able to apply for AARP Connecticut’s 2024 Livable Communities Support Program, a local extension of the national initiative. Now in its seventh year, the initiative dedicated to funding “quick-action” projects in Connecticut communities, will begin accepting applications from July 1 until August 16. People can email CTLivable@aarp.org with questions or for more information.

This year, AARP awarded 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.