Politics & Government

Mayor Menino Wants To Hear Your $5 Million Idea

The Bloomberg Philanthropies' Mayor's Challenge offers opportunity to reward Boston for innovation.

Calling all of Boston's urban mechanics: Mayor Thomas Menino wants your help in coming up with a $5 million idea.

The Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayor’s Challenge is a competition for U.S. cities to develop ideas to solve problems and improve cities’ quality of life.

The city with the most innovative idea will win $5 million, and four other cities will receive $1 million, according to a City of Boston press release.

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“This is a terrific opportunity propose creative solutions for our city,” said Menino via press release. “We are all urban mechanics. If you have an inventive idea that can make our city better, I want to hear it.”

Some of the innovative ideas that Boston has created (with some expanded to areas outside of the city) include Citizens Connect, Renew Boston, and the Hubway bikeshare system.

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Like the above-mentioned services, the idea submitted "must address a social or economic problem or improve the city’s customer service, level of efficiency, or accountability to and engagement with the public."

Menino is particularly interested in ideas that can increase access to technology, expand affordable energy solutions, provide for Boston’s growing senior population, or support the diversity of languages spoken in Boston.

How to share your idea 
Click here to start. The deadline for submissions is August 20. The Mayor’s Office will review ideas submitted by outside individuals, as well as City departments and select one to submit to the competition in mid-September.

Bloomberg Philanthropies will announce the winners in spring 2013. For more information about the Mayor’s Challenge click here


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