Natalia Naman Temesgen: It turns out you can go home again

I've been back in Columbus now for 2½ years.

I remember the panic I felt before arriving ("I'm going back to the middle of nowhere!"), followed by the pleasant surprise after taking stock of the newfangled Fountain City.

It's a sentiment I hear echoed regularly from Columbus' prodigal sons and daughters: "Columbus has come a long way!" "There used to be nothing here, but now look at it." Or even, "I would never come here after dark, but now there's a block party after dark!"

How did we get to a place like this? How does Uptown teem with new businesses and cultural and community events? How do Midtown and Lakebottom become destination spots for families and individuals scattered all around the city?

How about all these open mic nights and talented local artists performing at local establishments? Or the great concert series on Broadway? Ma Rainey came up in Columbus back in the day -- and now bands like The Chemistry Project are springing from the same fertile ground.

We are seeing this newness in our city because people with big ideas are trying to implement them. We are investing in the Columbus we want to live in, not just waiting and wishing for change.

But investing doesn't only take time and passion. It also takes money -- something you and I may not have a lot of lying around. Enter the Knight Cities Challenge.

The Knight Cities Challenge is an annual initiative by the Knight Foundation offering the 26 American cities that once produced Knight-Ridder newspapers a chance at a slice of $5 million dollars to make a new idea for their community become a reality.

Columbus is one of those cities. And last year, Anne King of Midtown Inc., won a grant to fund a grid of pedestrian and bicycle trails connecting the Midtown and Downtown neighborhoods. This project is already in the final design stages

and should be manifesting in the near future.

What is your great idea? When have you thought to yourself, "Columbus needs this?" If you'd like to apply for the Cities Challenge, just determine whether it meets at least one of these three criteria: it helps Columbus attract and keep talented people; it expands economic prospects by breaking down divides and connecting people; it spurs connection and civic involvement.

I've taken a look at the application page at knightcities.org, and it really is one of the most layperson-friendly applications I've ever seen. You don't need grant writing experience to navigate it. You just need internet access and a good idea about how to make your city even better. We know Columbus has grown immensely these last few decades. Let the Knight foundation follow your lead to grow it even further. Submissions are closed at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Natalia Naman Temesgen is an independent contractor. Contact her at nntemesgen@gmail.com

This story was originally published October 17, 2015 at 9:47 PM with the headline "Natalia Naman Temesgen: It turns out you can go home again."