Anchorage, AK – Today, AARP announced that the Municipality of Anchorage Innovation Team (i-team) will receive one of four 2020 Community Challenge grants awarded to Alaska organizations. In the largest grant release to date, more than $2.4 million was awarded to 184 organizations nationwide. Grant recipients will implement “quick-action" projects to create more livable communities across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Anchorage Smart Cities grant will be used by the Anchorage i-team and partners to install air quality sensors around the Municipality. The real-time data will be publicly available and presented in ways to make it easy for residents to understand. Residents will be able to subscribe to SMS and e-mail alerts to be proactively notified when air quality is poor. Access to additional air quality data will allow for better analysis and localized information. Anchorage frequently had poor air quality during the Alaska wildfire season in 2019. Additional data could help predict when specific neighborhoods would be impacted.
“In a time when there are more forest fires and other air quality issues, the more we know the better able we are to protect our respiratory health. Area-specific air quality data gives residents who are sensitive to air quality the facts needed to make informed decisions about the precautions to take," said Mayor Ethan Berkowitz.
Other Alaska projects include the following:
- United Way of Mat-Su will work with older residents and local artists to design and create an art and cultural trail reflective of the community's history.
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Cooperative Extension will create a new area to grow fresh foods and demonstrate how to build a space that is inclusive of people of ages and abilities.
- Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation will provide new, stocked lifejacket loaner boards at public-use ADA and accessible facilities to increase access to the outdoors and water recreation.
“We are incredibly proud to partner with Alaska's grantees as they work to make immediate improvements in their communities, encourage promising ideas and jumpstart long-term change," said Teresa Holt, AARP Alaska state director. “Our goal at AARP Alaska is to support the efforts of our communities to be great places for people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities. The coronavirus pandemic has only underscored the importance of this work."
All projects are designed to achieve one or more of the following outcomes:
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Create vibrant public places by improving open spaces and parks and activating main streets.
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Deliver a range of transportation and mobility options by increasing connectivity, walkability, bikeability, wayfinding, and access a wider range of transportation choices.
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Encourage the availability of a range of housing by increasing accessible and affordable housing solutions.
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Increase civic engagement and demonstrate the tangible value of “Smart Cities" by bringing together local leaders and residents from all backgrounds to address challenges.
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Support coronavirus response and recovery efforts by ensuring older adults' access to information, essential services, and civic life.
The
Community Challenge grant program is part of AARP's nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which helps communities become great places to live for residents of all ages. View the full list of grantees and their project descriptions at
www.aarp.org/communitychallenge and view an interactive map of all of the
Community Challenge projects and AARP Alaska's livable communities work at
www.aarp.org/livable.
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About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit
www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.
About the i-team
The Anchorage i-team works to improve the lives of residents and save the city money by using data science, human-centered design, and technology to solve problems.