Contest Seeks Storm-Prep Ideas For Sandy Region

Federal housing secretary Shaun Donovan is announcing a design competition to help the region affected by Superstorm Sandy prepare for the next big storm.

Donovan joined officials from New York and New Jersey at New York University on Thursday to announce the contest called Rebuild By Design.

Teams of designers, architects and others will be asked to submit concepts for projects to enhance storm preparedness in the region.

Donovan said winning projects will be built starting in March 2014.

There is no set budget for the projects. Donovan said the winning designs will be built using federal Community Development Block Grant funds as well as other public and private funds.

He said the contest will "expand the imagination" and go beyond the old ways of doing business.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)