Deadline to apply is July 11

June 11, 2025

(TRENTON) – Human Services today announced that local governments can apply for Age-Friendly Communities grants to develop local age-friendly initiatives that support the health and well-being of older New Jerseyans. A total of $2.7 million in grant funding will be awarded to eligible municipalities, counties, and nonprofit organizations partnering with local government.

The Age-Friendly Communities grants will be used to build community partnerships, execute a community needs assessment, create an action plan to become an Age-Friendly Community, and enroll in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.

“We encourage local governments that want to make their communities more accommodating to residents as they age to review the RFP and apply. Creating more inclusive communities that take into account the needs of older adults is a worthwhile endeavor that will have a meaningful and lasting impact,” said Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman.

The Age-Friendly Communities grants are part of the Age-Friendly Grants Program. In March, the Department awarded $2.2 million in grant funding to local governments and nonprofits to develop age-friendly initiatives and implement recommendations from the New Jersey Age-Friendly Blueprint. Two types of grants were awarded at that time: Age-Friendly Project grants and Age-Friendly Communities grants. This round is focused solely on community grants in order to support even more local municipalities and counties to advance Age-Friendly planning.

Membership in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities signifies that a community’s elected leadership has made a commitment to actively work with residents and local advocates to make their town, city, county, or state an age-friendly place to live.

The network provides cities, towns, counties, and states with the resources to become more age-friendly by tapping into national and global research, planning models, and best practices.

“The idea behind ‘age-friendly’ is simple: it means to make communities more welcoming and livable for people of all ages. This is an opportunity for local governments to tap into a network of resources that can help them achieve their age-friendly goals to better serve their aging populations,” said Deputy Commissioner for Aging and Disability Services Kaylee McGuire.

These grants come at a very opportune time. New Jersey, like the rest of the United States, is at the threshold of an enormous demographic shift. According to one estimate, nearly 20 percent of New Jersey’s population will be over the age of 65 by the end of this decade.

In 2021 through Executive Order No. 227, Governor Phil Murphy created the Age-Friendly State Advisory Council within Human Services. The Executive Order called for the Department to develop a blueprint, informed by the Advisory Council, outlining strategies to advance age-friendly practices across the state. Commissioner Adelman chaired the Advisory Council.

The Age-Friendly Blueprint, published in May 2024, focuses on:

• Positioning New Jersey as an innovator in aging;
• Expanding the number of age-friendly municipalities and counties;
• Viewing aging as an asset;
• Embedding aging in all policies;
• Reimagining and integrating the continuum of long-term care services;
• Helping residents have the resources to live a meaningful life in the community they choose; and
• Giving people of all ages access to health and social supports, including to reduce disparities.

“Everyone can play a role in making their communities age-friendly. People interested in learning how they can make a difference should visit the Age-Friendly Resources page at the Division’s website, aging.nj.gov,” said Division of Aging Services Assistant Commissioner Louise Rush.

The deadline to submit proposals is July 11, 2025.

View the RFP and details here.