AARP Hearing Center
Combining $2,500 grants with additional resources — such as webinars, cohort learning opportunities, up to two hours of one-on-one coaching with leading national organizations and AARP publications — this grant opportunity accepted applications for projects that benefit residents (especially those age 50 and older) in the following categories:
- Bike Audits: Implementing bike audit assessments to enhance safety and bikeability in communities (especially for people age 50-plus), with support from the League of American Bicyclists and using the AARP Bike Audit Tool Kit.
- HomeFit® Modifications: Implementing education, simple home modifications and/or easy home safety and accessibility solutions to make "lifelong homes" (especially for people age 50-plus), with support from the RL Mace Universal Design Institute and using the AARP HomeFit Guide.
- Walk Audits: Implementing walk audit assessments to enhance safety and walkability in communities (especially for people age 50-plus), with support from America Walks and using the AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit.
See the 2024 AARP Community Challenge page to learn about this year's three grant opportunities: Flagship Grants, Capacity-Building Microgrants, Demonstration Grants.
If a grantee has a website or online presence, its name appears in blue and is hyperlinked.
Grants in Support of Bicycling
ALABAMA
- Montgomery: Montgomery County Commission
This project will engage volunteers to conduct two bike audits evaluating safety near Montgomery Whitewater park. County officials will analyze the findings and work toward implementing improvements.
More 2024 Lists
DON'T MISS: Scroll down to watch a video about the Capacity-Building Microgrant opportunity
ALASKA
- Anchorage: Chugach Mountain Bike Riders
Ten older adult riders will conduct bike audits on the trails at and around the community’s most popular park. Three audits will identify work needed to accommodate tricycles and other adaptive cycles. The other two audits will identify safe connections on busy access routes.
ARIZONA
- Cottonwood and Clarkdale: Yavapai County Community Health Services
The grantee will conduct bike audits to inform efforts to add safe bike lanes along Cottonwood’s roads. A high percentage of the city’s cyclists are age 50 or older
ARKANSAS
- Pine Bluff: City of Pine Bluff
The city will conduct three bike audits to determine where to add bike lanes, as the current absence of such lanes puts cyclists at risk. The project will specifically invite older adult volunteers to weigh in.
CALIFORNIA
- Rancho Cordova: Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates
This project will conduct a bike audit of Rancho Cordova’s first-ever roundabout project, followed by a meeting with city public works staff to discuss findings and next steps.
- San Diego: Webster Heights Community Development Corporation
This project will invite older volunteers to participate in bike audits along a multi-use path to identify possible safety improvements for the route. Participants, residents and city officials will then meet to discuss how the audit’s findings.
COLORADO
- Alamosa: San Luis Valley Great Outdoors
This project will host community bike audits to develop strategies to encourage safe bicycle use. The grantee will partner with a local older residents’ group to identify destinations for the audits.
GEORGIA
- Brunswick: Bike Walk Golden Isles
This project will recruit older adults to participate in bike audits along the path of a proposed multi-use trail. Feedback from the audits will inform public meetings with residents and government officials.
ILLINOIS
- Arlington Heights: Northwest Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
This project will invite older adults to participate in bike audits along a multi-use path. They will help identify safety and accessibility concerns, ensuring the path is welcoming to residents of all ages. The bike audits will also identify possible locations for bike lanes, with the goal of connecting the north side of town to two grocery stores on the south side.
- Jerseyville: City of Jerseyville
Bike audits will identify possible locations for bike lanes, with the goal of connecting the north side of town to two grocery stores on the south side. The organization will recruit older adults will be recruited to participate in the audits.
MASSACHUSETTS
- Merrimac: Merrimac Senior Center
Older adult volunteers will conduct a bike audit focused on areas they frequent. The audit will assess the condition of sidewalks and paths and inform efforts to implement an e-bike program.
NEW MEXICO
- Santa Fe: Bike Santa Fe
A series of bike audits will evaluate safety and accessibility at intersections and along city streets. The findings will help improve connections to multiuse trails, since many streets lack well-maintained, protected bike lanes.
NORTH CAROLINA
- Raleigh: Oaks and Spokes
This project will introduce annual bike audits in several Raleigh neighborhoods where many older adults live. The organization will recruit adults age 50 and older to help gather data, plan the audits and advocate for safer biking conditions.
OHIO
- Lancaster: Fairfield County Health Department
Two bike audits will identify needed improvements along a path linking a high school and a community park in Fairfield. The county will share the results with city officials to guide future planning.
- Ottawa: Go Ottawa
Volunteers will conduct bike audits along popular bike commuter routes and potential future trails. The audits will result in recommendations for making walking and biking safer.
PENNSYLVANIA
- Hatfield: Greater North Penn Area Transportation Management Association
A series of bike audits will identify appropriate locations for new bike lanes, repair stations, bike racks and signage. Audit participants, residents and municipal leaders will meet to discuss the results and recommendations for new bike infrastructure.
TEXAS
- La Marque: City of La Marque
Three bike audits on multiuse paths will focus on safety for older cyclists. The audits will identify hazards and barriers to be addressed in future planning efforts.
- Richmond: Fit Houston
A series of bicycle and tricycle audits will evaluate travel routes between local senior centers. Meant to support the rollout of adult tricycle lending libraries, the audits will address safety concerns along a system of roads and park trails.
Grants in Support of Walkability
ARIZONA
- Phoenix: TigerMountain Foundation
This walk audit will identify potential safety improvements to crosswalks, lighting and pedestrian islands. The audit will help enhance accessibility, particularly for older adults.
CALIFORNIA
- Los Angeles: Keiro Services
In this project, volunteers will participate in three walk audits in Little Tokyo’s commercial district. Participants will identify potential improvements to sidewalks and crosswalks. The audits will increase safety for older adults living nearby.
- San Francisco: Outer Sunset Neighbors
Three walk audits will evaluate the safety and walkability of sidewalks and crosswalks in San Francisco’s Little Chinatown neighborhood. Chinese-speaking volunteers will participate in the audits and attend meetings with city officials to discuss the results.
COLORADO
- Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Greenwood Village, Denver and Aurora: High Line Canal Conservancy
Walk audits will allow residents to evaluate access points and busy street crossings along an urban trail. The findings will inform updated trail guidebooks, online resources and signage. They will also help prioritize trail improvements and remove barriers to access.
FLORIDA
- Jacksonville: Mayport Waterfront, Inc.
This project will conduct walk audits and follow-up meetings. Lack of sidewalks and crossing signals presents a safety issue in the neighborhood, and parking overflows onto the area’s narrow residential streets during community events.
ILLINOIS
- Cairo, Carbondale, Harrisburg, Carmi, Golconda, Tamms and Pulaski: Community Health and Emergency Services, Inc.
A series of walk audits will identify viable locations to install benches. The seating will offer residents a place to meet up or wait for rides during community activities.
- Chicago: Black Cornerstones
This project will conduct walk audits to identify potential visibility, sidewalk and crosswalk improvements. The organization will recruit older volunteers to participate and meet with residents, business owners and local officials to discuss their findings.
IOWA
