We have been selected as a 2025 AARP Community Challenge Grantee!

AIA Maine is thrilled to announce we have been selected to receive a 2025 AARP Community Challenge grant. We are one of only 383 grantees selected (out of 3,450+ applications!) from across all 50 states, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

With this quick-action grant we are excited to invite you to participate in an AIA Maine Design Competition, a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of innovative housing solutions that address the diverse needs of our community. ​ This competition aims to foster creativity and collaboration among town planners, developers, design professionals, and community members. Contest details, dates and a schedule of an online informational lunch and learns will be available on the AIA Maine website in mid July.

“We are incredibly proud that AARP selected AIA Maine for this investment to make the greater Portland Maine region more livable for residents of all ages,” stated AIA Maine President Jessie Carroll. “AARP is a nationwide leader in making communities more livable and we are honored that they see the tangible value this project will bring to our area.”

About the AARP Community Challenge

The AARP Community Challenge grant program supports projects in areas such as public places, housing, transportation, digital connectivity, community resilience, and more. In 2025, Toyota Motor North America is providing funding for pedestrian safety projects that aim to improve streets and sidewalks nationwide. Microsoft is also contributing funding for digital connections projects aimed at expanding high-speed internet (broadband) access and adoption.

This is all part of AARP’s nationwide work on livable communities, which supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and counties across the country to become great places for all. AARP believes that communities should provide safe, walkable streets; affordable and accessible housing and

transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents of all ages to participate in community life.

To learn more about the projects being funded by the AARP Community Challenge across the nation, including all 383 granted projects this year, visit AARP.org/CommunityChallenge. You can also view an interactive map of current and past AARP Community Challenge projects and AARP’s Livable Communities work at AARP.org/Livable.