Human Services Awards Grants to Implement Age-Friendly Community Enhancements

Second Round of Grants Brings Total Investment to $3 million to Help Make NJ Communities More Age-Friendly

December 22, 2025

(TRENTON) - Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman today announced $720,000 in grants have been awarded to local government and nonprofit organizations to assess, plan, and develop local age-friendly initiatives that support the health and well-being of older adults.

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 .

"Aging is a lifelong process, and community planning that considers the needs of residents as they age benefits everyone. I commend the local governments and organizations that are joining us in our commitment to being an Age-Friendly State. We've prioritized new funding to help local communities implement our Age-Friendly Blueprint, ensuring it's not just a document on a shelf, but an active guide that drives real change throughout New Jersey. This investment will help make our communities more inclusive and accommodating for people at every stage of life," said Commissioner 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 . The first round of the program provides two types of grants: Age-Friendly Project grants and Age-Friendly Communities grants. Both grant options promote public, private, and cross-sector partnerships, as well as public policies that improve the health, well-being, satisfaction, and quality of life for all residents by addressing the eight age-friendly domains of livability.

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

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

" The projected increase in our older adult population over the coming decade offers a unique opportunity for leaders across all levels of government and within communities to implement intentional changes and strategic plans. This moment allows us to foster more inclusive and integrated environments for individuals of all ages and abilities. By investing in age-friendly communities, we can ensure that everyone in New Jersey has the opportunity to thrive as they grow older, alongside friends and family," said Deputy Commissioner for Aging and Disability Services Kaylee McGuire.

The following entities received grants of up to $70,000:

· Bergen County Division of Senior Services

· Carteret Borough

· Center of United Methodist Aid to the Community Ecumenically Concerned with Helping Others ( CUMAC/ECHO ) (Paterson)

· Fair Lawn Borough

· Greater Somerset County YMCA (Bernards Township)

· Jersey City

· Lodi Borough

· Oradell Borough

· Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County (Cape May County)

· Somerset County

· Toms River Township

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.

"It is exciting to see this work being put into action in communities across the state. I hope this will inspire more towns and counties to make inclusivity part of their community planning and motivate all of us to reexamine how we view getting older and the value that comes with age and experience," s aid Division of Aging Services Assistant Commissioner Louise Rush.