17 URBACT Cities among the Finalists for Mayors Challenge

Following a successful first edition, that took place in the US,  Bloomberg Philanthropies took this competition to Europe, where it aims to find bold and creative ideas for major urban problems, ideas that can have an impact, be implemented and transferred. Organized in several steps pacing from January till September 2014, the Challenge is addressed to EU and Associated Countries cites with over 100.000 residents and will award €5 million to the city with the best idea, and four prizes of €1 million each.  From the 155 cities that submitted their proposal, 21 finalist were selected. 17 of them are or were part in URBACT networks.  For example, both Lisbon and Madrid, partners of URBACT EVUE network submitted ideas for energy related challenges. The city of York , Lead partner of Genius: Open network  was selected for its idea of a city co-creating solutions in a citizen-driven process. Bristol, an active member of Sustainable Food network, was selected for their  idea to increase citizens' access to and consumption of nutritious, organic foods, improving health while also creating an economy-boosting new market for locally grown produce.  The finalists will be invited to take part in an Ideas Camp that will take place during the month of June, for then to resubmit their improved project. The winners will be announced during the autumn of 2014.