AARP Community Challenge Grant Announcement!!
Get Connected In Downtown Ortonville!
We’re excited to share that we are one of 750 grantees from across the country selected to receive a 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant from @AARPLivableCommunities and AARP @aarp.michigan! We’re incredibly humbled to be recognized with this award to help make Downtown Ortonville more livable for people of all ages.
This grant will support our Connected Corridor project and will help create the infrastructure for FREE public Wi-Fi throughout downtown. Phase 1 will provide public Wi-Fi on Mill Street from Old Town Hall to the Old Mill Museum. Future phases will expand to the rest of downtown. Following this we will incorporate a downtown audio system.
This new Wi-Fi network will support community events, encourage visitors to spend more time exploring local shops and restaurants, and help strengthen Ortonville's vibrant downtown atmosphere.
With funding support provided by Microsoft, the AARP Community Challenge grant program is expanding its investment in digital connections projects that aim to increase access to high-speed internet, strengthen digital literacy, and enhance broadband adoption in communities across the country.
Learn more about the AARP Community Challenge: www.aarp.org/CommunityChallenge
The Ortonville Connected Corridor is a multi-phase initiative designed to strengthen downtown connectivity, support local businesses, enhance visitor experiences, and position Downtown Ortonville for long-term economic growth. The overall Connected Corridor vision includes:
Public WiFi connectivity
Coordinated downtown audio systems
Future digital placemaking and smart downtown technologies
Streetscape enhancements and visitor engagement tools.
Phase 1 focuses exclusively on the installation of a public Wi-Fi network that will serve as the technological foundation for future project phases.
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