The Barack Obama Foundation announced on Thursday that the search for the host city of Obama's presidential library has officially commenced, ABC News reported.
The organization promised for the bidding process to be "open and accessible," disclosing that Chicago, Honolulu, and New York City are among the first in the competition.
"Our goal is to build a library of which the whole country, and hopefully the whole world, can be proud," said Marty Nesbitt, a member of the foundation board and a close friend to the president. "Our vision is to create a space that reflects President Obama's values and priorities throughout his career in public service and serves as force for good in the surrounding community and throughout our world."
In addition to Nesbitt, Obama appointed Kevin Poorman, a Chicago businessman, and Julianna Smoot, an Obama campaign veteran, to run the process.
According to ABC News, qualifying information is due by July 16. Later in the summer, the committee will go through proposals from the most competitive applicants.
In Chicago, where the Obamas have strong ties, institutions likes University of Chicago, the University of Illinois Chicago, and Chicago State University all expressed interest in submitting a bid.
But then there's New York, where the president's alma mater, Columbia University, has said they are considering a bid and Hawaii, where Obama spent his childhood.
