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San Juan, PR

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Entrepreneurship and improved economic resilience

Description: The Sila M. Calderon Foundation hosted 16 workshops with local entrepreneurs with the goal of strengthening small businesses, fostering job creation and increasing wages. The Foundation also offered technical assistance, hosted community outreach events and provided other resources. Thirty-five older adults completed the program and participating entrepreneurs received 119 hours of training from experts. Working with historically marginalized and underserved communities, the Foundation's mission is to achieve a more just and productive society in Puerto Rico by combatting poverty and inequality. Since 2018, the Foundation has helped create and support more than 650 small businesses and more than 1,000 new jobs.

Little Rock, AR

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Entrepreneurship and improved economic resilience

Description: This project will support socially-disadvantaged small farmers aged 50 in a rural area by installing a greenhouse, sharing germinated plants and providing a prep station with equipment to clean and package produce.

Augusta, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Entrepreneurship and improved economic resilience

Description: This project set out to create vendor stalls near the Jessye Norman School of the Arts building, with the goal of holding regular artists markets. The school purchased benches and kiosks for participating vendors to display their goods. The school then held a street market where artists could sell their work. Organizers say they plan to expand the market in the future and hope it will become a regular event, increasing foot traffic and economic activity in the neighborhood.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Memphis, TN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: The City of Memphis hoped to encourage residents of the Crosstown neighborhood to walk. They replaced and repaired sidewalks at the Lewis Center, the local senior center. To encourage people to use a new urban walking trail, the City also installed signage directing people to the path. A designated rest stop along the trail includes benches and planters, giving walkers a place to stretch, rest and socialize. Future plans include upgrades to crosswalks at the neighborhood senior center, as well as accessibility improvements at other public facilities and outdoor spaces. The Lewis Center also hopes to convene walking groups, giving older adults the opportunity to exercise in a social setting.

Memphis, TN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: To combat food insecurity and increase opportunities for socialization, this project created The Exodus Marketplace. The space now hosts a monthly farmers market, a book club and more.

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