Governor’s Cabinet on Aging awards Community Connections grants to Age-Friendly Communities

AUGUSTA – The Governor’s Cabinet on Aging announced the award of nearly 40 grants to Lifelong Maine’s Age-Friendly Communities statewide as part of the Community Connections program. Municipalities awarded grants include Dexter and Dover-Foxcroft.

The awards, ranging from $1,500 to $20,000 and totaling $330,000, support projects that align with the Cabinet on Aging’s goals of creating sustainable communities and enhancing community connections that improve the quality of life, inclusion, and engagement of older adults. 

The Cabinet’s Community Connections program is a $2.5 million multi-year project to improve the well-being of older Mainers and create livable communities for all ages. The University of Maine Center on Aging and Maine’s Area Agencies on Aging are key partners in the Community Connections program, with the Center on Aging overseeing the grant awards to the  Age-Friendly Communities.

“This investment recognizes that Maine’s Age-Friendly Communities and the Cabinet on Aging share the same goals of ensuring that Maine has vibrant, resilient communities in which all of us, regardless of age, can lead secure, healthy and engaged lives,” said Cabinet on Aging Coordinator Elizabeth Gattine. “As part of the Community Connections program, the Cabinet is supporting the innovative programming represented by these grant awards that elevate the voices and needs of older Mainers.”

The grants support quick-action projects that increase the impact of Lifelong Maine’s Age-Friendly Communities and address priorities identified by older adults in those communities. Funded projects include: emergency preparedness programs, activities that encourage social connection, volunteer transportation services, enhanced accessibility of public spaces, health and safety initiatives, and improved community communications

Age-Friendly Sullivan received $4,700 to upgrade the sound and lighting system for events held in the public park, including Memorial Day, Sullivan Daze, Fall Festival, Holiday Tree Lighting, and Music in the Park. 

“Large events encompass the entire park with loud street noise from US Route 1. This project will increase the capacity and ability of everyone, including those with hearing impairment, to enjoy guest speakers and entertainment. Events at the park are designed for all ages and all abilities,” said Candy Eaton of Age-Friendly Sullivan.

Age-Friendly South Portland and Age-Friendly Saco jointly received $12,000 to provide emergency food supplies for residents, a need identified by FEMA and reinforced by recent disasters nationally. Funding will go toward securing a mobile storage unit, can openers, and food.

“In case of an emergency, residents are expected to have a food supply that will not require electricity to store or prepare. For those experiencing food insecurity, maintaining a supply of food that ought to be saved until an emergency is a challenge. Emergency operations plans for many hazards recommend that people shelter in place and not attempt to travel, making this food supply an additional inducement to stay put,” said Lisa Joyce of Age-Friendly South Portland. “The recent disasters in the South have provided lessons about the importance of preparedness and the potential delay in resources arriving to support basic needs.”

A list of funded projects is available at https://www.lifelongmaine.org/resources/community-connections/ccgrants.