The 2018 U.S. Mayors Challenge, sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies, is a nationwide competition that encourages city leaders to uncover bold, inventive ideas that confront the toughest problems cities face.
The time is now!
U.S. mayors face bigger challenges than ever before. Innovation is no longer optional; it’s necessary so cities can continue to deliver results and improve life for residents.
The 2018 Mayors Challenge is designed with this urgency in mind. The competition returns to the U.S. as one of the first investments in the Bloomberg American Cities Initiative, an effort to help U.S. cities generate innovation and advance policy.
“I’m not a techie, I’m an oldie but a goodie” is how Donna described herself during tonight’s kickoff of this wknds #HartfordCitiCare Community Hackathon @upwardhartford. She said she’s here b/c she knows what her community needs.@BloombergDotOrg #MayorsChallenge #HartfordStrong
THEAMONTANEZ ■ Thea Montanez
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Democracy + Parks = autonomous vehicles. That sounds about right!! #LNK #LNKInnovation #MayorsChallenge
MAGGIEJO ■ Maggie Stuckey
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Great job Cary! You disposed of more than 700lbs of unused prescription medicine during Operation Medicine Drop! Find out how you can dispose of your unused prescription medicine anytime, here: http://bit.ly/2nlVr4X #MayorsChallenge @BloombergDotOrg
TOWNOFCARY ■ Town of Cary
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Ready…Set…Innovate! @BloombergDotOrg As one of 35 Champion Cities in the 2018 #MayorsChallenge, our team is applying the problem-solving approaches they’re learning to streamline the rental housing application process. Learn more about our project at https://mayorschallenge.bloomberg.org/ideas/elk-grove/ …
CITYOFELKGROVE ■ City of Elk Grove
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Want feedback on an app without coding? Bring rough, interactive prototypes to your users and ask what they want your system to do. You’ll be amazed! Here, we asked youth groups what they want from a gun violence trauma alert system. #Hartford @BloombergDotOrg #MayorsChallenge
RPIERCECITY ■ Ryan Pierce
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35 Champion Cities Have Been Selected!
35 cities have been selected to continue in the competition as Champion Cities. Click here to learn more.
Teams from each of the 35 Champion Cities kicked off the testing phase at Ideas Camp in New York City in March 2018:
Participating cities will:
Solve An Urgent Problem
The Mayors Challenge has been designed to help hundreds of cities develop ideas that solve the most urgent problems facing cities today. Innovation experts will visit each of the first 300 cities that sign up for the Challenge to deliver one-day city hall training workshops to accelerate idea development by drawing upon the expertise of the community.
Join Bloomberg's Cities Network
All entrants will receive expert guidance to develop their ideas and will join Bloomberg’s cities network, which identifies, elevates, and promotes innovations that work across cities.
Win Millions
of Dollars
35 Champion Cities will win up to $100,000 to test their ideas and build local support. The five cities with the best ideas will receive millions to implement their ideas at scale.