AARP Montana Awards Grants to Ten Montana Organizations as Part of its Nationwide Program to Make Great Communities Even Better

AARP Montana announced ten organizations throughout the state will receive 2023 Community Challenge grants – part of the largest group of grantees to date with $3.6 million awarded among 310 organizations nationwide. Grantees will implement quick-action projects that help communities become even more livable in the long-term by improving public places; transportation; housing; diversity, equity and inclusion; digital access; and civic engagement, with an emphasis on the needs of adults age 50 and over.

“AARP Montana is thrilled to grant these funds to help already great communities across Montana become even better places for people of all ages to live and thrive.” said AARP Montana State Director, Tim Summers. “Over the past six years we have funded 41 different Montana projects and we have worked with grantees on a wide range of ideas from creating safer streets, improving public transportation, trails and parks to creating community gardens and enlivening neighborhoods with murals, benches, lighting, planter boxes and bike racks. We have shared all of these projects in detail online, but now we have compiled these projects into one publication, complete with photos, called Investing in Montana Communities.”

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Here in Montana, ten projects were funded for a total of $107,875. Those projects include:

Projects funded by AARP’s national Livable Communities team $82,875

• $18,396 -- Arlee Community Development Corporation. This project enhances the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes' Community Victory Garden near the Arlee Pow Wow grounds. Accessible picnic tables and benches are added for Elders to observe and relax. The Arlee Community Development Corporation (ACDC) provides these amenities, creating a welcoming environment for Elders and garden volunteers. Elders can enjoy the community atmosphere, share stories, and improve their well-being. The picnic tables and benches are a valuable addition to the community park, where the ACDC is a leading partner. Additionally, the ACDC partners with Senior Centers to supply fresh produce from the Victory Garden for senior meals and weekly produce boxes.
• $20,000 -- Adult Resource Alliance on behalf of Age Friendly Billings. Age-Friendly Billings will collaborate with local organizations to enhance Lillis Park's inclusivity for all ages and abilities. This grant aims to create an age-friendly environment, promoting daily walking and exercise for older adults. It will fund a challenge board and two signs, encouraging safe joint exercises and a daily goal of walking. Objectives include raising community awareness and generating enthusiasm among partners to address age-friendly needs, fostering a more inclusive community.
• $20,000 -- Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. In December 2020, Congress transferred ownership of the Bison Range from the US Fish & Wildlife Service to the CSKT (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes), and the reunification of the land and tribal control was officially completed in early 2022. This grant aims to establish outdoor day use areas at the CSKT Bison Range, allowing Tribal elders, families, and older visitors to enjoy the outdoors while also connecting with the area's rich history and culture. The National Bison Range is located in Moiese, Montana – 50 miles northwest of Missoula on U.S. Highway 93.
• $11,380 -- City of Hamilton. The City of Hamilton, in collaboration with Bike Walk Bitterroot and technical support from Montana State University's Western Transportation Institute, initiated this project to design and execute temporary traffic calming initiatives on local streets utilizing traffic circles. These pop-up demonstration projects aim to address concerns related to the interaction between pedestrians and vehicles while also serving as a testing ground for potential permanent safety measures on State Street.
• $13,099 -- Headwaters Trail System. The Headwaters Trail System project aims to enhance Edwin Bellach Memorial Park by adding three stationary exercise equipment pieces. These installations will be located alongside the Headwaters Trail, specifically on a popular 1/2-mile loop frequented by trail users aged 50 and above. Our primary focus will be on acquiring equipment that benefits this age group. The chosen site offers easy access from a paved parking lot, making it a preferred area for rehabilitation purposes, particularly for individuals recovering from hip, knee, back, and other surgeries.