City of North Bend release - NORTH BEND, OR — The City of North Bend is proud to announce that it has received a $15,000 AARP Community Challenge Flagship Grant to help make important community information easier to access in the heart of downtown.  The grant will support the purchase and installation of a new outdoor digital kiosk at the North Bend Visitor Information Center as part of a new downtown community hub. Once installed, the kiosk will provide easy-to-read wayfinding, safety, community, and visitor information to help older adults, residents, veterans, visitors, and local businesses independently navigate services, events, emergency resources, maps, and downtown destinations.  AARP Community Challenge Flagship Grants provide an opportunity for communities to apply for funding across several categories and be creative in addressing local needs. The 2026 AARP Community Challenge accepted applications for community improvement projects related to public places, housing, transportation, digital connections, disaster resilience, and other priorities that benefit residents, especially those age 50 and older.  AARP announced a record $8.3 million national investment in its 2026 Community Challenge program, supporting 750 quick-action projects across the country. The City of North Bend is honored to be included among communities working to make public spaces more welcoming, accessible, connected, and useful for people of all ages.  “This project is about more than technology,” said Stephanie Wilson, Community Development Manager for the City of North Bend. “It is about helping people find useful information when and where they need it. Whether someone is looking for emergency preparedness information, downtown businesses, visitor resources, community events, or accessible attractions, this kiosk will help connect people with North Bend.”  The new kiosk will be part of the broader Visitor Information Center Master Plan and will complement the future Hub Rest Area, funded in part by Travel Oregon, and the T-Mobile Plaza and Performance Corner, funded in part by T-Mobile.  The announcement photo was taken in front of the Four Point Wayfinder Sign at the North Bend Visitor Information Center. That location was chosen intentionally. Several years ago, North Bend Main Street received an Open Door Pitch Grant through Oregon Main Street, made possible with funding from AARP. That earlier grant helped fund the Four Point Wayfinder Sign, which continues to help guide people through downtown. The new digital kiosk builds on that same spirit of connection, access, and community improvement.  When completed, the kiosk will provide quick access to information such as:  Emergency preparedness, tsunami evacuation information, and police and fire resources; Information about the Merci Boxcar and veteran resources; Local business directory, walking routes, and parking maps; Main Street and City events, programs, and volunteer opportunities; Public art, museums, and cultural attractions; Senior programs and community resources; Wheel the World accessibility information, including accessible amenities and attractions; Tourism destinations, recreation opportunities, and visitor information.  The kiosk will be especially useful for residents who may not have reliable internet or smartphone access, travelers with limited cellular service, visitors looking for quick directions, and community members who want one easy place to learn about local services, events, businesses, attractions, history, and opportunities.  The City is grateful to AARP for investing in projects that strengthen communities and improve accessibility. This new addition will help connect more people with the resources, businesses, attractions, history, and opportunities that make North Bend a special place to live, work, visit, and explore.