Raleigh, NC

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: ADUs, tiny homes, missing middle and manufactured housing

Description: The organization will host tours, workshops and provide design guidance to help residents age 50-plus understand how accessory dwelling units can support aging in place. The project focuses on accessible design and housing planning tools.

NC

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Entrepreneurship and improved economic resilience

Description: This project created a toolkit to grow local tourism along the Main-to-Main Trail. The trail winds across North Carolina, connecting more than 60 Main Street communities to showcase public art and murals, local food and cultural history and experiences. North Carolina Main Street hoped to build capacity among participating communities, helping them identify their assets and create an economic development strategy. To do this, they created a template for a tourism itinerary, which visitors can follow to find local attractions. They also developed a playbook for affective social media marketing. Since publishing the toolkit, the Rural Planning center has provided guidance on photography, videography and destination writing. Additionally, they are helping local small businessowners to better serve tourists.