Chiayi City GovernmentChiayi City Government

Chiayi Deepens U.S. Ties as Education Partnership Expands to City Exchange Post Date: August 18 Department of Education / Tourism and Information Department Chiayi City is deepening its international education partnership with Humboldt County, California. On August 17, Mayor Huang Min-hui led an education delegation to Eureka City Hall, where they were warmly welcomed by Mayor Kim Bergel. Huang witnessed the signing of an MOU between Jiabei Elementary School and Big Lagoon Elementary School, and joined local Girl Scouts in exchanging experiences on girls' empowerment and service learning — marking a new chapter as the partnership expands from school-based cooperation to city-level exchange.   Mayor Huang said the four-year trans-Pacific partnership, which began with the first education MOU in 2022, has grown into a close and lasting friendship through reciprocal visits, workshops, and school exchanges. A total of 25 teachers from Humboldt County have visited Chiayi for educational exchanges and joint curriculum planning, while this marks Chiayi's second delegation to Humboldt County. She noted that Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel is also an educator who understands the transformative power of education — not just as the transfer of knowledge, but as a means of helping children see the world, discover their potential, and envision their future. She expressed hope that both sides will continue expanding educational and city-level cooperation to create broader international opportunities for the next generation.   Dr. Colby Smart, Deputy Superintendent of the Humboldt County Office of Education, brought the original 2022 MOU to the meeting and highlighted the results of years of sustained partnership. Mayor Huang said international education should be more than a single event or overseas trip — it should be woven into students' daily learning, making language a practical tool for friendship, cultural understanding, and global connection. Chiayi schools have since established 11 school-to-school partnerships with schools in Humboldt County and across California, through video exchanges, letter writing, cultural box exchanges, and joint curriculum development.   Beyond school exchanges, Mayor Huang met with Girl Scout partners from Humboldt County and Eureka in her capacity as chair of the Girl Scouts of Taiwan, sharing experiences in girls' empowerment and service learning. She gave special recognition to Cheryl Kingham, who has volunteered with Girl Scouts for 24 years. Huang said the spirit of "We see. We care. And we act." reflects the shared purpose of both Girl Scouting and international education — helping students grow into citizens who look beyond their o

From Koshien to Chiayi City: Mayor Huang's Visit to Ehime Keeps a Century of Baseball Friendship Alive Post Date: August 15 Civil Affairs Department / Bureau of Cultural Affairs / Tourism and Information Department Chiayi Mayor Huang Min-hui visited Ehime Prefecture, Japan, attending the opening ceremony of a baseball exchange between National Chiayi University and the Shikoku University Baseball League at Botchan Stadium in Matsuyama on August 14, before visiting Botchan Theatre in Toon City on August 15. Deputy Director-General Liu Tuo of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Osaka accompanied the delegation throughout, witnessing the continued friendship between Taiwan and Japan.   Mayor Huang, a Chiayi University alumna, said she was deeply moved to witness the exchange at Botchan Stadium and honored to see young players from both sides carrying forward the KANO spirit. She noted that the two cities have built their friendship "one bat at a time" — from Chiayi University's 2024 visit to Ehime and subsequent MOU with Ehime University, to the Shikoku league's 2025 return visit to Chiayi.   During the visit, Mayor Huang had an unexpected reunion with Shiro Hayashi, president of the association honoring legendary coach Hyotaro Kondo, who had participated in baseball exchanges in Chiayi in 2014. Mayor Huang shared photographs from the KANO premiere and street parade, deeply moving Hayashi, who thanked her for continuing to promote exchanges between the two sides over the years.   At Botchan Theatre in Toon City, the original cast of the 2024 musical KANO—1931: 2,000 Kilometers to Koshien warmly welcomed Mayor Huang during her return visit. The theatre expressed hope to screen an 8K version of the film KANO in Chiayi in the future. Mayor Huang responded that the project was "a must," saying KANO carries Chiayi's collective memory and spirit of perseverance, and that an 8K screening would allow residents to experience the story anew.   In 1928, Chiayi Agricultural School — predecessor of National Chiayi University — established its baseball team, which reached the Koshien final in 1931 and finished as runner-up, laying the foundation for Chiayi's identity as the "Home of Baseball." The 2014 film KANO renewed these ties, with Matsuyama sending a delegation to the premiere parade. Exchange activities during the visit drew local media coverage in Ehime, reflecting the importance both sides place on their longstanding friends

Chiayi City Punches Above Its Weight at 2026 IASE Awards, Claiming Top Honor Among Non-Metro Cities Post Date: August 11 Strategy Department / Tourism and Information Department The Chiayi City Government received multiple honors at the 2026 Impact Academy of Sustainability Education Awards (IASE Awards), including the top honor for cities outside Taiwan's six special municipalities — the City Impact Governance Award. The city also won one first-place award, three model awards, and one finalist recognition in the City Cross-Disciplinary Education category. The awards were formally presented to the city government team at the municipal meeting on August 11, celebrating the achievements of departments across the city government and highlighting Chiayi's growing impact through innovative governance and cross-sector collaboration. Mayor Huang Min-hui said the IASE Awards are highly regarded nationwide. During a visit to the exhibition in Taipei, she was impressed by the large crowds and the enthusiasm of parents, children, and education professionals as they explored and exchanged ideas on innovative projects. She said the experience demonstrated the positive power of innovation, and that Chiayi's multiple awards recognize the city government departments' long-term efforts in developing cross-disciplinary initiatives. Among the winning projects, the Police Department's "Chiayi Immersive Digital Anti-Fraud Education Initiative — Detective Scrub: Don't Take Away My Can! (廢柴探長：不准搶走我的罐罐！)" AR Interactive Anti-Fraud Game won first place in the Resilient and Safe City Education category. By combining education with interactive entertainment, the initiative strengthens public awareness of fraud prevention, moving anti-fraud efforts upstream to reduce scams at their source. The Economic Affairs Department's "Driving Urban Transformation from the Dining Table: Chiayi's Sustainable Living Action for All Ages" received a Model Award in the Sustainable Living and Environmental Transformation category. The project draws on Chiayi's proximity to major agricultural production areas and combines student creativity, music, and food and agricultural education to bring sustainability into everyday life. The Planning Department's "Athlete Career Companion Program" and "Youth Affairs Action Competition" both received Model Awards in the Youth Governance and Development Innovation category. The Department of Labor and Youth Development's "Chiayi Future: Youth Career Accelerator" program, which includes the Skills for Chiayi and Youth Employment Plus initiatives, was also recognized as a finalist in the same category. Together, the projects support athletes' career development, encourage youth participation in public affairs, and expand opportunities for young people through career training and empowerment. Mayor Huang said a city's progress is measured not only by infrastructure but also by innovative actions that respond directly to residents' needs. She said that for a city of Chiayi's size, the awards reaffirm that ambition and innovation can speak as loudly as scale — and that the city will keep turning that energy into action, building Chiayi into a safer, more sustainable, and youth-friendly city where residents can pursue their dreams. The Planning Department noted that the IASE Awards are an international evaluation platform in Asia focused on sustainability impact and innovative practices. The 2026 awards adopted the theme "Soil," highlighting how education, cross-sector collaboration, and innovative governance can build sustainable urban capacity. Chiayi's achievements across multiple award categories demonstrate the city government's continued efforts to advance innovative governance across departments. Local civic and business organizations also received recognition. Chiayi Creative Co., Ltd. was named a finalist in the Social and Industry Education Innovation category for "Precision Entrepreneurship Education | Cultivating Innovative Talent for Livable Cities and Communities." Playmate Creative Co., Ltd. received a Model Award in the Youth Talent Impact category for its "Reimagining In-Person Companionship: Storyteller Cultural Seed Training Program," while Hear the Core Studio received a Model Award for its "Customized Dream-Building Program for Youth in Residential Care." The Planning Department noted that these local teams have previously participated in youth programs supported by the Chiayi City Government, building experience through resource connections, mentoring, and hands-on implementation. Their recognition reflects not only the achievements of local young people and organizations but also Chiayi's long-term commitment to creating a supportive environment for youth — showing how local creativity, when nurtured, can quietly become one of a city's most powerful engines for growth.