Eastern Iowa Communities Apply for Second Round of Blue Zones Project

Hillary Stockwell of Albert Lea, Minn., walks with her children Grant, 2 (in stroller), and Claire, 4, on the Blue Zones Walkway trail around Fountain Lake on Monday, April 23, 2012, in Albert Lea, Minn. (Liz Martin/The Gazette-KCRG)

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By Ellen Kurt

Story Created: Aug 30, 2012 at 2:30 PM CDT

Story Updated: Aug 30, 2012 at 2:30 PM CDT

Twelve more Iowa communities are working to help Iowa become the healthiest state by 2016.

These communities have applied to be Blue Zone Project demonstration sites.

Altoona, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, Dubuque, Iowa City, Marion, Muscatine, Ottumwa, Oskaloosa and Sioux City will be involved in the second round of Blue Zone applications. These communities have populations of more than 10,000 people.

Four communities have already been chosen. Six out of the twelve applying will be accepted to make a total of 10 demonstration communities. Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Mason City and Spencer were named as demonstration communities in May of 2012.

The decision on the final communities will be made in January of 2013.

The object behind the Blue Zones Project is to make healthy choices easier within your community. The project is based on Blue Zones principles developed by Dane Buettner. These principles help people live longer, healthier lives by bettering a community through their policies, social networks and environment.

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