394 cities across the United States are thinking up million dollar ideas that will aim to solve some of the most challenging urban issues of our time.
Bloomberg Philanthropies announced the Mayors Challenge to inspire urban innovation in the public sector.
“As cities face increasingly complex problems with fewer and fewer resources, the need for public sector innovation is greater than ever,” said New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in a statement. “The Mayors Challenge provides a chance for mayors to put forward bold new ideas that improve their communities – and then spread nationally.”
The grand prize winning city will receive $5 million and four cities will receive $1 million. The winning cities will come up with an idea that does one of the following: “solves a major social or economic issue, improve[s] the customer service experience for citizens or businesses, enhance[s] accountability, transparency, and public engagement, and/or increase[s] government efficiency.”
A large cross-section of U.S. cities is participating in the challenge. Of the largest 100 cities, 77 are participating and 58 percent of the total cities have populations smaller than 100,000.
Is your city working on an innovative idea for the city of the future? Check here.
The winning entries will be announced next year.
Photo: Flickr/Milton CJ
