OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Ottumwa isn't out of the running towards becoming a designated Blue Zones community. After hosting a site visit in March, the town was not chosen in the initial round of Blue Zones designations.
However, Ottumwa's Blue Zones Board submitted their application for round two and are once again a finalist going for review before the Blue Zones Committee. If a community has hosted a site visit before, it's not necessary to host another. Blue Zones Committee members will simply speak to the board over the phone or at an informal meeting. Communities that did not host a site visit in the initial round must now do so. Those meetings will take place throughout November and December in 12 communities, and the Blue Zones Committee will announce their six chosen demonstration sites near January 1.
Since Ottumwa has applied before, the board was able to hear feedback from the committee on what the community's strengths and weaknesses are as an applicant, which will help Ottumwa put together a strong second bid. Board members are optimistic that designation will be awarded this time around, which would not only promote a healthy lifestyle for residents, but will foster economic development as well.
"The younger generation is also looking at communities when they're wanting to relocate and go to work for a manufacturer or company, what is gong on in that community, does it promote that healthy lifestyle?" said Lynelle Diers, Blue Zones Board member. "That will be a good selling point to bring young people back into our community, also to encourage other businesses to come here and set up. I see nothing but a win-win between health and economics here."
To be a designated Blue Zones project site, towns need 20% of the population to pledge their support. Right now, Ottumwa stands at about 15%.
To pledge support, visit the Blue Zones website.
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