MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The City of Marquette is taking a major step toward building a community where people of all ages can live, work and thrive by officially joining the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, AARP Michigan announced this week.
Marquette becomes the second Upper Peninsula community to join the network, following Escanaba, which joined in 2025. Across Michigan, more than one in five residents are now 65 or older, with many of the state’s oldest counties located in the Upper Peninsula, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“When a community looks out for its neighbors and plans for the future, everybody wins,” said Paula D. Cunningham, AARP Michigan State Director. “Marquette is helping lead the way in the U.P., and AARP Michigan is proud to be a partner as this important work moves forward.”
The AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities is part of a global effort to help communities prepare for the needs of rapidly aging populations. Participating communities assess local needs, engage residents and develop action plans around the network’s Eight Domains of Livability, including housing, transportation, outdoor spaces and buildings, social participation, civic engagement, communication, health services and opportunities for community connection.
Marquette now joins more than 1,000 communities across the country, including 16 in Michigan, committed to making their communities better places to live for people of all ages.
“The City of Marquette is very excited to engage in the process of becoming an AARP Age Friendly Community,” said Jon Swenson, City of Marquette Director of Community Services. “The one thing we have in common is that we are all aging. The City is committed to helping our community age gracefully, independently and with the appropriate resources. This designation, along with the work the City will engage in to achieve it, will strengthen our tool kit of resources to best serve our community.”
For more information about the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, visit aarp.org.
