The 2009 Knight Community Information Challenge has begun, and we’re looking for your best ideas on meeting the information needs of your community. The challenge is a “five-year, $24 million effort to help place-based foundations find creative ways to use new media and technology to engage and inform citizens.”

If you represent a community foundation (or another foundation with a local, geographical focus), check out the challenge website (InformationNeeds.org) for FAQs about the challenge, a webinar on applying to the challenge, and videos from local civic leaders talking about their community information projects.

If you’re not a part of a place-based foundation, but you have a great idea, you might be able to partner with your local foundation to apply for the challenge.