Cd'A applies for grant

COEUR d'ALENE - Downloading an idea.

The city of Coeur d'Alene applied for a multi-million dollarinnovation grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, one of 305 cities that have submitted ideas in the first Mayor's Challenge competition that seeks ways for municipalities to identify ideas to improve city life.

The top finalist will receive a $5 million grand prize, while four $1 million prizes will be handed out to help cities carry out their ideas.

Coeur d'Alene's idea is to develop a GPS-based mobile device app for citizens to implement stormwater management from their phones. The app would allow citizens to steward their water resource, the application states, as well as create awareness about water conditions.

A selection committee, announced Monday, will help Bloomberg Philanthropies identify the 20 cities that will advance to the finalist stage of the competition, according to a press release from the philanthropic organization created by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Winners will be notified at a later date.