Contact Information:

Meg Matthews

Public Relations Manager

mmatthews@littlerock.gov

(501) 804-4822

Mayor Mark Stodola Announces Participation in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge

Little Rock identifying innovative solutions to local problems

 for multi-million dollar prizes

(Little Rock, AR) (June 13, 2012)  - Mayor Mark Stodola today announced Little Rock’s intention to compete in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, a new competition for U.S. cities to generate breakthrough solutions to address major challenges and improve city life. Bloomberg Philanthropies will award a $5 million grand prize and four $1 million prizes to the five cities that put forth the boldest and most replicable ideas.

“With this important announcement Bloomberg Philanthropies and Mayor Michael Bloomberg have focused national attention on local solutions that work or hold promise of working,” stated Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola.  “And with the financial prizes announced as incentives, I expect to see an overwhelming response from Mayors across the Nation.”

The Mayors Challenge invites the 1,300 mayors of U.S. cities with 30,000 residents or more to submit their boldest idea. The innovative idea must improve city life by addressing a major social or economic issue, improving the customer service experience for citizens or businesses, increasing government efficiency, and/or enhancing accountability, transparency, and public engagement.

“Of course, Little Rock intends to submit many of our successful and replicable innovative practices that have Moved the Needle including the areas of childhood obesity, civic engagement and volunteerism,” Mayor Stodola stated.

“Every day, mayors around America are tackling increasingly complex problems with fewer and fewer resources,” said Michael Bloomberg, philanthropist and Mayor of New York City. “Our cities are uniquely positioned to inspire and foster the innovation, creativity, and solutions needed to improve people’s lives and move America forward. The Mayors Challenge creates an opportunity for mayors to champion their boldest ideas – and to have them take root locally and perhaps spread nationally.”

Challenge details include:

• The submission deadline for ideas is September 14, 2012.  In late 2012, 20 finalists will be announced and team from each of those cities will attend Bloomberg Ideas Camp, a two-day gathering where top policy, program, and innovation experts will help cities strengthen and stretch their ideas to ensure the greatest impact.
• Coming out of Camp, finalists will receive individualized coaching to prepare their ideas for final submission. Winners will be announced in the spring 2013, with a total of $9 million going to five cities to jumpstart implementation.
• These winners will be selected based on their idea’s vision and novelty, potential for impact, and potential for replication in other cities, as well as on the quality of implementation plans.
• A selection committee will help Bloomberg Philanthropies select the winning cities.

To learn more about the Mayor’s Challenge, visit www.Bloomberg.org/mayorschallenge.

Mayor Stodola is currently attending the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s Annual Meeting, which is being held in Orlando, Florida this year. He is available for telephone interviews. To schedule a call, contact Meg Matthews at (501) 371-4421, (501) 804-4822 or mmatthews@littlerock.gov.