Let’s say someone gave you $15,000 to make your community improve its eating and exercise habits. Do you have an idea for how you’d spend it?

If so, the Minnesota Ideas Open wants you. The initiative by the Minnesota Community Foundation will award funding to the best ideas from everyday people for solving societal difficulties. The first challenge: What could be done to reduce the alarming increase in obesity rates among Americans?

The Minnesota Community Foundation gets major funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Anyone can submit ideas at www.MNIdeaOpen.org between now and April 9, after which a group of judges will narrow the ideas to a few finalists. After that, Minnesotans will be asked to vote for the best idea beginning with a kick-off event at the May 6 Minnesota Twins game.

The winner of the grant will be announced on May 17.