The nonprofit Cleveland Leadership Center is asking individuals to pitch their best ideas for civic improvement – no matter how wild. The civic pitch competition, Accelerate 2015: A New Model for Change, is designed to solicit ideas that can be one-and-done projects or sustainable, ongoing efforts that make Northeast Ohio a better place.

“We came up with the idea 18 months ago, thinking about the opportunities in Cleveland for the business sector and entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas,” recalls Marianne Crosley, president and CEO of the CLC. “But there really isn’t a way for people with civic visions to pitch. What better way to impact and transform Cleveland than to open things up to the public to pitch their ideas and make a difference in the community?”

Pitches will be accepted in five categories: quality of life; economic development; educating for tomorrow; community change; and transformative arts and culture. “We’re open to anything, from how do you transform a street corner or empty lot to how do you impact youth,” says Crosley. "There’s nothing traditional about this event.”

The only parameters are that the presenters must be individuals and the pitches must be civic-minded. No organized groups or businesses will be heard.

Panels of judges will select a winning pitch in each category, and those category winners will pitch to a larger audience. The audience will then vote on an overall winner. The four finalists each receive $1,500 and the winning pitch receives $3,000.  All winners will receive mentorship and an opportunity for community support.

The event is presented by Bernie Moreno’s Collection Auto Group. Moreno is co-chairing the event along with Thomas E. Hopkins, CLC board chair and senior vice president of Sherwin-Williams, to celebrate Collection Auto Group’s 10^th anniversary and as a way of saying thanks for their success and growth in Cleveland.

The deadline to apply is Monday, January 12. The competition will be held on Wednesday, February 25th. Pitches begin at 4:30 pm, followed by the audience judging and reception at 6 pm at the Global Center for Health Innovation. Tickets are $35 for the general public, $25 for CLC Partners and $20 for students.