Knight Foundation wants ideas to help fuel success in cities

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is asking for creative and innovative ideas that will make cities more successful.

The challenge, being offered to 26 cities across the nation, is worth $5 million. Wichita is one of the cities.

The Knight Cities Challenge will launch Oct. 1. Applications will be taken until Nov. 14.

The challenge is open to architects, activists, artists, city planners, entrepreneurs, students, educators and city officials as well as governments and organizations, according to a news release by the Knight Foundation.

The criteria for the challenge says that although the project must benefit at least one or more of the 26 eligible communities, the idea can come from anywhere or anyone.

The idea should help focus and drive a city’s success in “attracting and retaining talent, expanding economic opportunity and creating a culture of civic engagement,” the news release said.

Each year, the Knight Foundation invests in the 26 communities where the Knight brothers once owned newspapers, including The Wichita Eagle.

To encourage ideas, the foundation will host community Q&A sessions in each of the 26 communities. The events will start in October and offer tips in preparing applications and more information on the challenge.

People interested may follow the Knight Foundation on Twitter – @knightfdn or search for #knightcities – for scheduling updates. Applications are available at www.knightcities.org.

Virtual office hours for people wanting more information also will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. on Oct. 1. Participants may access the meeting at 888-240-2560. More dates for virtual office hours will be announced later.

In addition to Wichita, other Knight cities are Akron, Ohio; Charlotte, N.C.; Detroit; Macon, Ga.; Miami; Philadelphia; St. Paul, Minn.; San Jose, Calif.; Aberdeen, S.D.; Biloxi, Miss.; Boulder, Colo.; Bradenton, Fla.; Columbia, S.C.; Columbus, Ga.; Duluth, Minn.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Gary, Ind.; Grand Forks, N.D.; Lexington, Ky.; Long Beach, Calif.; Milledgeville, Ga.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Palm Beach County, Fla.; State College, Pa.; and Tallahassee, Fla.

This story was originally published September 17, 2014 at 6:19 AM with the headline "Knight Foundation wants ideas to help fuel success in cities."