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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- The Ottumwa Blue Zones Committee is still working hard to make Ottumwa a healthier city.

The committee did not lose hope after finding out in May that they were not picked as one of the handful of cities in Iowa chosen to become a model of healthy living.

Committee members are currently in the process of resubmitting their application, a process that must be completed by the end of August.

Fortunately for those involved, they don’t have to submit the full application the second time around.

“They actually had a workshop at the end of June for the new designees and then they also said communities who submitted but were not selected could attend and they would provide us with some information and some guidance and so not every community went to that. We did,” said Kim Hellige, Ottumwa Blue Zones Committee.

Hellige said they are in the process of reorganizing their sub-committees and really focusing in on their strengths and working on their weaknesses.

To sign up for the Blue Zones Pledge, click here.