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A national competition launched by Philip Morris International鈥檚 U.S. businesses is offering $250,000 to help locally developed ideas grow into scalable solutions for communities across the country.

The Community Futures Challenge will award $250,000 across five grants of $50,000 each to eligible nonprofit organizations. Applications are open through Nov. 30.

Arizona State University is serving as the program鈥檚 official judging partner, while an independent panel will evaluate submissions based on community impact, feasibility, innovation, sustainability and the strength of the project team. Pacheco Ventures operates the challenge.

Eligible projects can range from early-stage concepts to pilot programs and initiatives already beginning to scale. Organizers point to workforce development, economic mobility, public infrastructure, civic technology and entrepreneurship among the types of community challenges the competition is designed to address.

The effort recognizes that many promising solutions are already being developed in communities across the country but need additional capital and partnerships to have broader impact.

The competition is being paired with a five-city Innovator Series Tour bringing together business, government, nonprofit and community leaders to discuss how locally developed ideas can move from concept to broader impact.

The tour recently stopped in Stamford, Connecticut, where participants included Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons, University of Connecticut President Radenka Maric and Daniel O鈥橩eefe, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development.鈥�

Stamford is one of five stops on the tour alongside Nashville, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Phoenix.

The Stamford discussion focused on the role local leadership, entrepreneurship and investment can play in turning community-based ideas into scalable solutions. The event was held at PMI U.S.鈥檚 headquarters wither representatives from government, business, media and non-profit organizations as part of the company鈥檚 broader America250 initiative.

The Community Futures Challenge is open to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations serving defined communities anywhere in the United States. Finalists are expected to be notified in January, with winners announced in early 2027.

Applications are open through Nov. 30 at鈥痑merica250cfc.org.