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AARP Virgin Islands Awards $107,500 in Grants Across the Virgin Islands

This year’s announcement is especially notable as the program marks its 10th anniversary and expands its reach to support even more local projects nationwide.

Rebecca Hughson,

AARP Virgin Islands

Published June 25, 2026

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 the Virgin Islands, AARP is thrilled to support eight 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:

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Flagship Grants
Capacity-Building Microgrants
Demonstration Grants

2026 Grantees in the Virgin Islands Include:

Virgin Islands Trail Alliance, Inc. (Christiansted) received a $15,000 flagship grant to clear overgrown parcels and create a new public nature park with easy walking trails, benches, picnic tables, shade trees, and improved access points.
Strategic Solutions Network Inc. (Frederiksted) was awarded $15,000 to enhance an age friendly heritage walking loop with shaded paths, crosswalks, distance markers, and rest areas that support safe mobility and social connection.
Eddie Ortiz Annual Three Kings Tradition Inc. (Estate Profit/Machuchal) will use its $15,000 grant to upgrade two neighborhood recreation areas with shaded seating, improved lighting, safe walking paths, and fitness equipment for older residents.
St. George Village Botanical Garden (Frederiksted) received $15,000 to rebuild a hurricane damaged picnic pavilion using resilient materials, accessible seating, and raised planters—creating a comfortable gathering space in a tropical climate.
St. Croix Animal Welfare Center (Christiansted) was awarded $15,000 to install ADA friendly educational signage along a new walking trail at a historic site, improving safety, wellness, and accessibility for older adult volunteers and visitors.
Coral Bay Community Council (Coral Bay, St. John) received $15,000 to host community meetings focused on hurricane preparedness, emergency planning, telehealth access, and storm mitigation—while strengthening vital neighbor to neighbor connections.
Tradewind Foundation Corp (Frederiksted) was awarded $15,000 to provide adults age 50 plus with hands on training in using tablets for hurricane preparedness, emergency alerts, and communication during power outages.
ZCMMMP received a $2,500 capacity building microgrant to distribute disaster preparedness kits to older residents in local housing communities, paired with in person guidance on how to use the supplies.

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 the Virgin Islands 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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