By Jennifer Benson, AARP Massachusetts State Director
From safer crosswalks and new park benches to accessible community gardens and improved digital access, the AARP Community Challenge helps local communities make quick, practical improvements. Now in its 10th year, the nationwide grant program funds projects that help towns, cities, and neighborhoods become great places to live for people of all ages. It has a particular focus on residents aged 50 and older.
The 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant recipients will be announced on June 24. The announcement kicks off a new round of “quick-action” projects designed to deliver visible improvements and build momentum for long-term community benefit. Through AARP’s broader Livable Communities initiative, the program helps local leaders improve streets, housing, public spaces, and services, so residents can stay connected as they age.
Since its launch in 2017, the AARP Community Challenge has awarded more than 2,100 grants totaling over $24 million to nonprofit organizations and local governments across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. What sets the program apart is its emphasis on tangible, community-driven projects. These are improvements residents can see, use, and benefit from right away, such as enhanced walkability, safer streets, and more welcoming public spaces.
Massachusetts communities have long embraced the AARP Community Challenge to advance Livable Communities goals locally. Recent projects have improved downtown plazas in Amherst and expanded telehealth access hubs in North Central Massachusetts. Grants have also enhanced accessibility at a Boston community garden and boosted pedestrian safety with artistic crosswalks in Worcester.
Earlier grants have supported accessible gardens at senior centers, on-demand transportation pilots, dementia-friendly caregiver programs, and outdoor gathering spaces that bring neighbors together. While each project is different, they share a common purpose: helping people of all ages remain active, engaged, and connected in the places they call home.
AARP’s work on livable communities starts with a simple idea: where you live should support your health, independence, and well-being at every stage of life. Most people want to remain in their homes and communities as they grow older, close to family, friends, and the places that matter most. That’s why AARP partners with local leaders and residents to strengthen transportation options and public spaces, and to support other community features that help people stay active and engaged.
A cornerstone of this effort is the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. The network brings communities together to share best practices, learn from one another, and commit to creating places that work for everyone. More than 125 communities across Massachusetts have joined, including cities, towns, and the entire Commonwealth. This reflects a strong, statewide commitment to livability. The AARP Community Challenge helps turn ideas into action with flexible funding for quick, visible projects. These projects respond to local needs and help move long-term age-friendly plans forward.
When grant recipients are announced on June 24, selected projects will roll out soon after, bringing quick, practical improvements that help communities become even better places to live. You can find a list of the grantees at aarp.org/ma beginning on June 24.
Jennifer Benson is the State Director for AARP Massachusetts.
RELATED CONTENT:
Why AARP Massachusetts supports a ban on cryptocurrency ATMs
Fighting Fraud: AARP Massachusetts Events & Resources
Protecting Your Financial Future as You Age: AARP Massachusetts Resources
