WASHINGTON (AP) — A foundation is challenging innovators to find new ways to improve cities, and it’s willing to fund their projects.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is announcing its Knight Cities Challenge on Tuesday to seek new ideas for how to make cities more vibrant places. The foundation will award $5 million per year in grants for three years.

The foundation says the challenge is open to artists, architects, city planners, students and educators, as well as governments and other groups. They’re looking for ideas that attract and retain talent in cities, expand economic opportunity or create a culture of civic engagement.

Project proposals must benefit one of 26 cities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. They include Detroit, Miami, Philadelphia, and smaller cities including Wichita, Kansas.

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http://knightcities.org/

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