AARP Vermont’s 2025 Winter Placemaking Grants provide financial support for up to $4,000 for temporary or permanent quick-action projects that focus on reinventing an indoor or outdoor public space that improves safety, accessibility and overall appeal.
What This Program Funds
The Winter Placemaking grant program aims to help communities embrace winter by transforming public spaces to promote activities and social interaction. Projects need to focus on those age 50 plus and utilize placemaking efforts to improve a community's existing environment to benefit people of all ages and ability. Capital expenditures are not eligible. Example projects include activating a vacant or underutilized public space or park through public art or programming and experimenting with complete streets and public transit options.
Additionally, AARPC is offering grant writing assistance to communities with populations under 8,000 that have limited staff and volunteer capacity. Requests for grant writing assistance must be submitted via an online form by 09/29/25. Priority will be given to the first 12 applicants. Applicants that have received AARP funds in the past are not eligible for grant writing support.
How Your Community Applies
Create an AARP Livable Community Program account if you don't have one, then complete the online application. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. EST on Monday, October 3, 2025.
Make Your Community’s Application Competitive
The most competitive projects will:
- articulate how the 50 plus community benefits - describe the need for your project and outcomes for those age 50 and older;
- demonstrate a clear, reasonable chance of creating a successful project to improve livability as a result of the project;
- identify ways to work with AARP to implement recommendations and ways to engage residents and stakeholders in the process;
- demonstrate collaboration with stakeholders and partners to assist with the project and follow-up activities; and
- provide a clear and concise timeline with an appropriate budget outlining how funds will be used for the scope of the project.
Where You Can Learn More
- Attend the informational webinar on September 10 at 12:00 p.m. to ask questions and learn about available grant writing assistance. Register at https://events.aarp.org/placemaking25.
- Visit the program webpage at https://livabilityvt.secure-platform.com/a/organizations/main/home.
- Contact Kelly Stoddard Poor, kstoddardpoor@aarp.org to ask questions about this program or for guidance on how to complete a competitive application.
Find Grant Writing or Grant/Project Management Help for Your Community
VLCT published a resource, Increasing Municipal Capacity for Grants, that offers ideas for assistance with grants. Many of the capacity builders also provide project management services. Hiring experienced project management assistance can increase the speed of project development and help avoid cost, permitting, and other development surprises.