GCDC, Monticello celebrate AARP grant

Monticello representatives, left to right and the back to the front: Bob Labarre (Village Board), Austin Coppernoll (Green County Leader), Christina Gilbertson (Green County Leader), Sally Roe (Monticello Chamber President), Olivia Otte (GCDC), Tracy Spotts (Monticello Chamber), Janelle Rucker (Monticello Chamber) and Stephanie Adams (Monticello Village Clerk). / Photo supplied

Monticello AARP before — Monticello representatives, left to right and the back to the front: Bob Labarre (Village Board), Austin Coppernoll (Green County Leader), Christina Gilbertson (Green County Leader), Sally Roe (Monticello Chamber President), Olivia Otte (GCDC), Tracy Spotts (Monticello Chamber), Janelle Rucker (Monticello Chamber) and Stephanie Adams (Monticello Village Clerk). / Photo supplied

MONTICELLO — The village of Monticello, along with the Monticello Chamber of Commerce, Green County Development Corporation (GCDC), and the Green County Leaders recently celebrated that Monticello was selected to receive a 2024 AARP Community Challenge grant. Monticello was one of only 343 grantees selected out of more than 3,300 applications from across all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

At the request of the village, a 2023-2024 Green County Leaders group provided a First Impressions report along with detailed recommendations for community improvements to enhance downtown foot traffic. This report provided support for the application to AARP for the Community Challenge Grant, which awarded $13,700 to Monticello.

With this quick-action grant and additional funding support provided by Toyota Motor North America, Monticello will be able to increase pedestrian safety by improving walkable areas, creating vibrant pedestrian infrastructure and engaging community members. The grant award will provide funding for benches, signage and landscaping that will be installed along key areas of the community and recreational trails to direct people through downtown Monticello.

“We are incredibly proud that AARP selected us for this investment to make Monticello more livable for residents of all ages,” said GCDC executive director Olivia Otte. “AARP is a nationwide leader in making communities more livable and we are honored that they see the tangible value this project will bring to our area.”

This is all part of AARP’s nationwide work on livable communities, which supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and counties across the country to become great places for all. AARP believes that communities should provide safe, walkable streets, affordable and accessible housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents to participate in community life.

To learn more about the projects being funded by the AARP Community Challenge across the nation, including all 343 granted projects this year, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. An interactive map of current and past AARP Community Challenge projects and AARP’s Livable Communities work can be viewed at aarp.org/livable.

For questions or comments regarding the project, contact GCDC at 608-328-9452, the Monticello Chamber at contact@monticello-chamber.com, or the Village of Monticello at 608-938-4383 or Monticello.clerk@gmail.com.