LI downtowns contest goes international

The drive to change Long Island has become an international affair.

Long Island Index Director Ann Golob says the Garden City group’s Build a Better Burb contest has attracted 275 potential candidates representing 38 countries.

The contest, with a $10,000 top prize, seeks bold designs that re-imagine Long Island’s aging downtowns.

A panel will select finalists by July 6, when the public will begin to vote on a “people’s choice award.” The winners will be announced in September. A $2,500 prize will go to the top student entry.

Here’s a breakdown of who has registered since March 31 (submissions are due by June 21):

--92 are teams, 183 are individuals

--68 are students

--101 are foreigners representing 38 countries, including Angola, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Iran, Mexico, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay and more.

--23 U.S. states are represented

--20 hail from New York.

--65 are from Long Island

The Index is shooting for 200 submissions.

Said Golob: “We’re really looking for some exciting ideas; futuristic, bold things we haven’t seen before -- something new and different that people would get excited about on Long Island.”