For the purposes of the Mayors Challenge, a great idea is one that shows bold and innovative thinking, a solid strategy for implementation, and the potential to generate measurable impact not just in your city, but in other cities, too. These ideas can either be visionary, back-of-the-napkin ideas, or things you've started (or started developing) that you now will take to completely new levels. The Mayors Challenge aims to encourage you to take an idea and make it bigger, better, and more impactful – to innovate! If you're looking for an award for something you’ve already done, this challenge is not for you.
It's nice to have examples to refer to when developing a new idea, so we have included three great ones from cities across the country that capture the spirit of the kind of innovative thinking, creative implementation, meaningful impact, and replicability that we are seeking. While these ideas already have been implemented (and therefore would not be eligible), they are just the kind of thing we would have been drawn to had we launched the Mayors Challenge when they were in their nascent stages. We hope you find these examples both helpful and inspirational, but please don’t feel constrained by them. If your idea is even bigger and bolder, all the better!
