New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- billionaire, philanthropist, and perhaps the nation's most prominent big-city mayor -- has issued the Mayor's Challenge, a competition among 1,300 U.S. cities to find the five boldest ideas with the greatest potential for impact.
The top prize will be a gift of $5 million, while the other four will get $1 million apiece. The five winners will be chosen from 20 finalists that get to attend an "ideas camp" at which they can work on refining their innovative solutions.
As suggested by Bloomberg's foundation, winning ideas will likely address serious social or economic problems, improve customer service for residents or businesses, enhance accountability to or engagement with the public, and create efficiencies that make government work better, faster, and cheaper.
Applications are due by Sept. 14, 2012.
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