MASON CITY – Mason City has been selected as an applicant to become a Blue Zone community.
From Mayor Eric Bookmeyer: “Congratulations Mason City! Thank you all so much for the commitment to get this far. It is a real tribute to our citizenry to go from next to last to this position. Now comes the real work but we can and will get this done.”
According to Kelli Huinker, Wellness Service Manager at Cerro Gordo County Dept. of Public Health, 84 towns in Iowa had submitted statements of interest to transform into a Blue Zone community.
The list of 84 has now been narrowed down to 25 towns that have been asked to submit applications. Those towns on the list of 25 must submit their application by early January of 2012.
The list of 25 towns is then narrowed down further, and then the Blue Zone staff comes in to each town to interview the finalists.
Finally, 10 communities are selected as Blue Zone communities.
According to bluezonesproject.com, “Blue Zones Community is a model for transforming communities so that the people who live in them can more easily adopt behaviors that help them to live longer, better.”