COMMUNITY
NM towns net piece of expanded AARP community grant program
Albuquerque mayor outlines how money has been used to enhance senior housing, transit
New Mexico communities are benefiting from AARP's Community Challenge grant program, which funds projects designed to improve quality of life for older residents while making communities more livable for people of all ages.
"At AARP, we believe that where we live shapes how we live 鈥� at every age," AARP CEO Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan said. "That's why, 10 years ago, we launched the Community Challenge program with a simple idea: Communities don't just need plans for the future. They need the ability to make progress today."
In 2026, AARP nearly doubled its annual investment, increasing grant funding from $4.2 million last year to $8.3 million, according to the organization's website.
About two-thirds of Community Challenge grants are awarded to local nonprofits, while the remainder go to local governments and community partnerships, including cities such as Albuquerque, according to Mike Watson, AARP's director of livable communities.
"Our city should work for you across your entire life," Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said during a news briefing about the program.
Since the program began, AARP has awarded 44 grants totaling $520,664 in New Mexico.
Keller said Albuquerque has used grant funding to support senior housing projects and improve public transit in coordination with the city's Department of Senior Affairs.
Albuquerque was not the only New Mexico community to receive funding.
Clovis and Deming were among the eight New Mexico communities awarded grants this year, according to AARP.
Clovis received funding to add sidewalks at the Curry County Fairgrounds, improving accessibility for people who use wheelchairs and walkers.
Deming received funding to build a shaded, accessible outdoor garden at the city's senior center. The project includes raised garden beds, seating, irrigation and connected walkways.
By 2028, AARP aims to improve the lives of 25 million older adults and support 100,000 tangible community improvements nationwide, according to Minter-Jordan.
"The hope is that our seniors can age in place for as long as they can and have the confidence that, if they do need to leave, they know there are places for them to go," Keller said.
Isabella Campbell is an intern with the New Mexico Local 近距离内射合集 Fellowships and Internships Program, which places emerging journalists in newsrooms across New Mexico. Learn more at . She can be reached at icampbell@abqjournal.com.
