The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative is pleased to promote the following funding opportunities that support inclusive age- and dementia friendly communities.

• MassTrails – due date: Feb. 1, 2022

MassTrails is an inter-agency initiative of the Commonwealth lead by the Governor’s Office, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Department of Transportation, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

MassTrails provides matching grants to communities, public entities, and non-profit organizations to plan, design, create, and maintain the diverse network of trails, trail systems, and trails experiences used and enjoyed by Massachusetts residents and visitors. Applications are accepted annually for a variety of well-planned trail projects benefitting communities across the state. This provides a great opportunity for age-and dementia friendly communities to create accessible and inclusive trails for older adults and people living with dementia.

Eligible applicants include municipalities, state or federal agencies, and non-profit organizations. Two or more entities can apply jointly, with one acting as the fiscal agent. MassTrails grants can be in addition to other forms of secured local, state, and federal assistance that the applicant will receive.

More info, including how to apply, is available here.

• FTA Innovative Coordinated Access & Mobility Grants – due date: December 6

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of $3.5 million in Fiscal Year 2021 competitive grant funding for projects that improve access to vital services for older adults and people with disabilities, and in low-income communities.

The main purpose of the Innovated Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) Program is to improve access to public transportation by building partnerships among health, transportation, and other service providers. This program provides competitive funding to support innovative projects for the transportation disadvantaged that will improve the coordination of transportation services and non-emergency medical transportation services (NEMT). In the FY 2021 program, FTA intends to target funding for regional and statewide mobility management capital projects that support coordination and enable comprehensive community access, including access to NEMT, for underserved groups.

More information on this funding opportunity is available here.