Star City Awarded Membership in AARP Network
The City of Presque Isle has recently been awarded membership in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities (AARP-NAFC).
Municipalities interested in membership must demonstrate via an application process that they encourage greater age integration and diversity and create a community that supports residents from cradle through retirement.
Currently, one in three Americans are aged 50 and older. By 2030, one out of every five people in the US will be 65 years of age or older. It is obvious that aging in America is an issue to take seriously.
The Network of Age Friendly Communities was launched in April of 2012 and is independent affiliate of the World Health Organization’s Age Friendly Cities and Communities Program. With the AARP-NAFC program, AARP helps participating communities become great places for people of all ages by adopting such features as walkable streets, better housing and transportation options, access to key services, and opportunities for residents to participate in community activities. While many communities adopt policies like this without joining this program, the network provides a structured process to guide community change and helps serve as a catalyst to educate, encourage, promote and recognize improvements that make communities supportive for residents of all ages. Enrollment as a member provides communities with the resources to become more age-friendly by tapping into national and global research, planning models and best practices. In addition to the research and planning resources, membership also opens up grant funding for specific projects to the City.
There are now member communities in 40 of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Presque Isle is the 243rd community to enroll in the Network (Maine has the most member communities of any state). The City will receive its official letter of welcome and Certificate in the next couple of weeks.
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