PRESS RELEASE: CLIMATE MAYORS CELEBRATES MEMBER CITIES, BOISE, IDAHO; AND SOUTH BEND, INDIANA; AS WINNERS OF THE BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES MAYORS CHALLENGE
The City of Boise is advancing geothermal energy to support energy affordability, while South Bend will be advancing AI for social good
BOISE, ID; SOUTH BEND, IN (February 27, 2026) - Climate Mayors member cities–Boise and South Bend–have each been awarded $1 million to bring bold and innovative ideas to life as part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge. Sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies to discover, nurture, and drive innovation in cities, the Mayors Challenge provides 24 winning municipalities around the world with funding and technical assistance to realize their ideas for addressing civic issues.
“Mayors are advancing solutions to community needs, bridging the gap between creative ideas and real local impact,” said Kate Wright, Climate Mayors Executive Director. “Congratulations to Boise Mayor Lauren McLean and South Bend, Indiana Mayor James Mueller and their teams for being recognized for their bold solutions to help address our most pressing climate challenges. Thank you to Bloomberg Philanthropies for supporting our Mayors in funding projects that are improving the lives of people in communities across the U.S. and around the world.”
“Boise is doing incredible work harnessing geothermal to deliver energy affordability, while South Bend is helping residents connect to local resources like zero waste programs, solar, EVs, energy assistance, and sustainability projects that can have a global impact,” added Wright.
Boise was named one of the winning cities for its work as the first city in the country using geothermal energy to heat, and potentially cool, multifamily affordable housing, addressing the pressure of rising utility costs. It is home to the country’s largest direct-use geothermal system which currently provides heat and hot water to 100 buildings downtown. Until now, accessing Boise’s geothermal network has been difficult for multifamily housing developments due to regulatory and billing issues, and reaching underserved residents requires a systemwide expansion and upgrade.
“We know housing affordability is about more than rent,” said Mayor Climate Mayors Chair and Boise Mayor, Lauren McLean. “Families need to be able to heat and cool their homes, afford groceries for their dinner tables and gas for their cars. Winning this award puts Boise on the map and will provide meaningful savings for up to 300 new, affordable homes.”
The City of South Bend will use its award to augment its 311 system. Built in partnership with the University of Notre Dame’s Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society, South Bend’s winning idea reimagines 311—using City and partner data to identify emerging service needs and connect residents with support before problems become crises. Over the coming weeks and months, work will begin to strengthen data‑sharing partnerships, continue resident engagement, and build predictive models that support proactive, human‑centered outreach and service delivery—at both the household and neighborhood level.
“In partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and community partners, we are changing the way we deliver city services in South Bend,” said Mayor James Mueller. “By integrating new technologies with our frontline teams, we can spot problems earlier, act sooner and achieve better outcomes that will build greater trust with our residents.”
“The most effective city halls are bold, creative, and proactive in solving problems and meeting residents’ needs – and we launched the Mayors Challenge to help more of them succeed,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg L.P., and three-term mayor of New York City. “We look forward to supporting this year’s 24 winners as they bring their innovative projects to life — and to seeing their ideas spread to more cities around the world.”
To learn more about the City of Boise and South Bend’s winning proposals, visit mayorschallenge.bloomberg.org.
To learn more about Climate Mayors, visit climatemayors.org
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About Climate Mayors
Climate Mayors is a bipartisan network of over 300 mayors, demonstrating climate leadership through meaningful actions in their communities since 2014. Representing 46 states and 59 million Americans, Climate Mayors reflect U.S. cities’ commitment to climate progress. For more information, visit our website and follow Climate Mayors on X, Bluesky, and LinkedIn.
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