National Livability Contest Through AARP Begins

Wisconsin cities and towns may enter a national contest to create momentum to improve livability for people of all ages. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of grant money are up for grabs in the 2019 AARP (aarp.org) Community Challenge for quick-action projects. AARP Wisconsin State Director Sam Wilson said the program serves as a springboard for ideas that need more funding to get off the ground. The contest encourages projects that address local needs through innovative ideas to improve housing, transportation and public spaces. Grants can range from several hundred dollars for small, short-term activities to several thousand dollars for larger projects. The application deadline is April 17, and projects must be completed by Nov. 4. Three Wisconsin projects were among the 129 selected for grants last year: Ashland and Sheboygan bought and installed Bike Fixation bicycle-repair stations, and the La Crosse Area Family YMCA installed new benches in its Community Food Forest.