As America's cities grow and expand, there's great opportunities--but there are also significant challenges. Twenty innovative metros are vying for $9 in grant money to address their city's greatest needs.
Spearheaded by NYC Mayor and ultraphilanthropist Michael Bloomberg, the Mayors Challenge is a business-plan type competition for cities to develop innovative, and replicable, ideas for improving urban life.
ICIC outlines the 20 finalists (out of 305 entrants) and digs deeper into three of the proposals that could have the largest impact on inner city economies.
In Milwaukee, over 4,000 foreclosed lots will be transformed for urban food uses. The author explains, "ICIC research has shown that 60% of food cluster workers have a high school diploma or less, versus 44% for the rest of the economy. Food cluster jobs are well-paying and accessible to inner city residents based upon education and skills required."
In Syracuse, an International Village would help immigrants launch microenterprises. San Francisco wants to matchmake job seekers with city projects to help unemployed residents gain new skills.
See articles in Next American City and Fast Company Co.Exist for explanations of what some of the other twenty finalists are proposing.
Read the full story: 20 Ideas that Could Change Our Cities
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan
Maryland's proposed six-year plan provides no funding for Baltimore’s BMORE bus program and reduces its road maintenance funding.
Detroit to transform waterfront with $2.2 billion investment
Developers will convert about 18 acres of unused parking lot space into civic spaces.
Data center developers are using lawsuits, cash offers to ‘overwhelm’ rural America
Newsrooms in five states worked together to uncover the tactics big tech developers use to buy land from reluctant communities.
U.S.-Iran war may have ‘devastating’ impact on cost to warm homes
Vermont and Maine residents may see a 76% increase in the cost of warming their homes this winter.
Senate bill would ‘overhaul’ environmental permitting laws
Under the proposed act, government agencies would also not be able to suspend or rescind permits after granting them.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
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Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
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One Hundred Miles
County of Mendocino
planning NEXT
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority