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Thursday, October 3, 2024

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Hurricane Helene death toll tops 200 as search and rescue efforts continue in North Carolina, community health centers in Florida struggle to serve patients as storm recovery strains resources, a new program offers Ohioans relief from medical debt, and voter advocacy groups say poor maintenance has led to inaccurate voter rolls in Indiana.

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Biden voices concerns over Israeli strikes on Iran, Special Counsel Jack Smith details Trump's pre-January 6 pressure on Pence, Indiana's voter registration draws scrutiny, and a poll shows politics too hot to talk about for half of Wisconsinites.

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Cheap milk comes at a cost for residents of Washington's Lower Yakima Valley, Indigenous language learning is promoted in Wisconsin as experts warn half the world's languages face extinction, and Montana's public lands are going to the dogs!

AARP awards eight grants to help Pennsylvania communities boost 'livability'

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Thursday, September 5, 2024   

In Pennsylvania, civic organizations with ideas for improving their communities have a new opportunity to turn their ideas into reality, thanks to recently awarded grant funding.

Through Community Challenge grants, AARP's Livable Communities initiative has awarded more than $86,000 across eight Pennsylvania nonprofits and government entities.

Angela Foreshaw Rouse, senior manager of community engagement and operations for AARP Pennsylvania, said the grants aim to support quick-action projects to improve public spaces, transportation, housing and digital access. She noted a local organization is using the funds to build a community database to help older adults and their families connect with arts opportunities.

"The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, their projects are creating an online database of cultural and social impact programming that will offer community-based arts to residents in the area," Foreshaw Rouse explained. "It also partners with Philadelphia City Council to help inform residents about the database."

Foreshaw Rouse outlined the program funds projects across three different grant opportunities, including flagship, demonstration and capacity-building microgrants. Since the initiative launched in 2017, the program has awarded more than $353,000 to 33 grantees in Pennsylvania.

She added Crispus Attucks York is using its funds to install outdoor musical instruments in a play zone, creating an accessible space for people of all ages and abilities.

"These musical instruments offer a meaningful way for adults to interact with children," Foreshaw Rouse emphasized. "That's an intergenerational space. So putting wonderful instruments in an outdoor setting so people can just go and engage and enjoy their outdoor public spaces."

She said the Greater North Penn Area Transportation Management Association will receive funding to provide bike audits to identify appropriate locations for new bike lanes infrastructure, repair stations, bike racks and signage.

"This is like public safety, public transportation," Foreshaw Rouse stressed. "A lot of people are biking. This is also like pedestrian and bicycle safety. So that's another innovative way in the realm of transportation to help broaden infrastructure for bicyclists. They're growing more popular across our urban, suburban and in rural areas as well."

Foreshaw Rouse pointed out this year, AARP has awarded $3.8 million to 343 organizations nationwide. The AARP Community Challenge grants will be implemented nationwide, with a quick turnaround for completion by Dec. 31.

Disclosure: AARP Pennsylvania contributes to our fund for reporting on Budget Policy & Priorities, Consumer Issues, Livable Wages/Working Families, and Senior Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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