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AARP Investing $167,000 in Kentucky Communities Through Expanded Nationwide Grant Program

15 communities across Kentucky are receiving a boost in their efforts to become more livable for residents of all ages.

Campbell Clark,

AARP Kentucky

Published July 08, 2026

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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. 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.

Since the beginning of the grant launch in 2017, Kentuckians have received over $600,000 in grants spread across 58 projects throughout the state. In 2026, $167,000 in grants are being awarded to 15 projects across the state.

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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.

Here in Kentucky, AARP is thrilled to support 15 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.

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2026 Grantees in Kentucky Include:

Community Action of Southern Kentucky educating community members about home safety and providing basic equipment.
City of Burkesville installing outdoor fitness stations.
Louisville Visual Art cleaning up sidewalks and adding a mural to a neighborhood block.
Tri-State Sports Commission installing outdoor pickleball courts.
Butler County Retired Teachers Association adding raised garden beds and seating near the local senior center.
Marshall County Public Library transforming an unused patio into a community gathering space.
Friends of Anderson Dean Community Park utilizing shaded areas along the park walking trail to install gazebos.
Kentucky State University instructing community members how to prepare for local hazards and build disaster kits.
Beattyville Main Street establishing a marked walking path downtown.
Trimble County Fiscal Court building an accessible outdoor gathering area.
City of Plantation refreshing landscaping.
City of Morehead installing traffic calming features for safer pedestrian crossings.
Fire Mission Veterans Green Space Initiative converting an unused space to an outdoor green gathering space.
Floyd County Fiscal Court distributing magnets with emergency and disaster resources.
Bridge Kids International adding seating next to a community hub.

To learn more about the AARP Community Challenge – here in Kentucky and nationwide – visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. You can also explore the AARP Livable Communities Map, an interactive tool featuring AARP Community Challenge grantees and more!