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Family Service Rochester (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public space activation
└ Public space activation
After the City of Rochester cut its parks and recreation budget during the COVID-19 pandemic, many small parks in Rochester fell into disrepair. To address this, Family Service Rochester improved a pocket park in the City's Friendship Park neighborhood, a diverse, low-income area of the city. This project added new trees, benches and a multilingual information kiosk. A volunteer team dug holes, planted, watered and staked trees. Others chipped in to keep the park free of litter. Organizers say the project demonstrated that residents will invest their time to improve their neighborhood. After the project's completion, volunteers from the initiative were inspired to improve other parks in the area.
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Tigard, OR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Entrepreneurship and improved economic resilience
Description: The City of Tigard hoped to create a business incubator to help local entrepreneurs test out their ideas. So the City launched its Tigard on Roll Program, purchasing two food trucks outfitted with commercial restaurant equipment. Startup food vendors can apply to lease the trucks at a reduced rate, and the City provides coaching from business advisors. The trucks -- which sit in Tigard's new Universal Plaza -- also offer an important amenity to residents of downtown. The incubator program specifically targets entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities, which it supports by reducing start-up costs and offering mentorship. Today, residents can find the trucks at a weekly farmers market and at the annual Taste of Tigard food festival.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Brainerd, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Expansion and enhancement of transportation options
Description: Many older adults in central Minnesota are unaware of their public transit options or lack information on how to use them. Organizers with the Region Five Development Commission set out to expand transportation access, while also combatting social isolation. The Commission, which serves Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena Counties, produced How to Ride the Bus videos with information specific to each county. They also distributed transit passes to older adult residents. Additionally, the Commission provided fitness club memberships to residents interested in improving their physical and mental fitness.
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