5 October 2012

Currently, New Orleans has thousands of vacant lots and abandoned properties. In an effort to return these vacant lots to community benefit, we partnered with the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) and Tulane University to host PitchNOLA 2012: Lots of Progress. This social innovation "elevator pitch" competition will take place on November 15, 2012 and challenges all New Orleanians to propose a viable, sustainable, scalable, and innovative solution for these properties. 

The competition is open to anyone residing in the Greater New Orleans Area, including for profits, nonprofits, and individuals or teams with or without an incorporated business. Applicants need only submit a short online proposal with a rough site plan for initial consideration. Ten semi-finalists selected from the initial applicant pool, will pitch their ideas to a large audience and panel of judges for a chance to win first, second, or third place. 

First place winners will get first pick of the available lots and will receive the property for free! Second and third place winners will also choose from the available lots and will receive the property for a highly discounted price—either 10% of the appraised property value, or $775, whichever amount is greater. 

Deadline for applying to PitchNOLA 2012: Lots of Progress is October 22.