Kansas City – AARP has announced that six organizations throughout Missouri, including one in Perryville, will receive 2025 Community Challenge grants.
The grants are part of AARP’s $4.2 million commitment to fund 383 quick-action projects focused on making communities more livable for people of all ages, with an emphasis on the needs of older adults.
The funds will support efforts to improve public spaces, transportation, housing, digital connectivity, and other essential areas. Now in its ninth year, the Challenge has awarded $364,772 through 32 grants in Missouri since 2017 to nonprofit organizations and local government entities across the state.
Grant projects will be funded in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP has announced that a Perryville organization is one of six in the state that will be receiving 2025 Community Challenge grants. Downtown Perryville Advancement has plans to install a wayfinding sign on the courthouse lawn to help locals and visitors locate local businesses and attractions.
“AARP Missouri is proud to work with communities across the state to help make them more livable for people of all ages,” said Craig Eichelman, state director. “These projects are about turning great local ideas into real improvements that make everyday life better, especially for older Missourians.”
According to AARP, Downtown Perryville Advancement will install a wayfinding sign on the courthouse lawn to help locals and visitors locate businesses and attractions. This sign will benefit those who prefer physical maps over smartphones, especially individuals aged 50 and older, enhancing accessibility and navigation in the downtown area.
Other projects being funded in Missouri include:
■ CHARM: The project will improve pedestrian safety along Main Street by adding colorful, reflective crosswalks and flashing LED signs. These upgrades aim to create a safer walking environment for residents, especially older adults, and support the independence of the aging population.
■ Citizens for Modern Transit: The “Story of the Bench” program by Citizens for Modern Transit and AARP in St. Louis will install benches at five transit stops each year. This initiative will collect and share stories about how these benches positively affect riders and communities, aiming to connect social infrastructure and encourage more investment in transit areas.
■ City of Bolivar: Bolivar will install shaded seating next to the new inclusive playground near the Recreation Center. This project aims to provide a comfortable space for grandparents and older adults to connect with their families, fostering intergenerational relationships and community engagement.
■ City of Pleasant Hill: Pleasant Hill plans to add benches and picnic tables to City Park and the Recreation Complex, creating rest stops along pathways and at activity centers. This project seeks to enhance accessibility and comfort for older adults and those with mobility challenges, encouraging community engagement and inclusion.
■ EverTrue: Hylton Point Apartments will install three speed bumps and host a Neighborhood Pedestrian Safety Event to improve safety for older adults and neighbors. This project aims to slow vehicle speeds and raise pedestrian safety awareness in the St. Louis city West End Neighborhood.
“AARP Community Challenge projects may be quick to launch, but their impact is long-lasting,” said Nancy A. LeaMond, AARP executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer. “We’re proud to support communities nationwide to advance solutions that make neighborhoods and towns of all sizes better places to live where everyone can thrive. And this year, we’re particularly proud to invest in projects benefiting often overlooked rural areas.”
