Eastern Iowa cities striving for blue

Iowa communities are undergoing health “checkups” as more than 50 cities prepare for the next phase of the state's Blue Zones Project.

Both Cedar Rapids and the Iowa City area plan events this week to ramp up efforts as they compete to become one of the first Blue Zones communities in Iowa.

About 20 Eastern Iowa communities have applied, with hundreds of people seeking to solidify each town's chances.

The Blue Zones Project is a main component of Iowa's healthiest state initiative, an effort to make Iowa the nation's healthiest state under the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.

Healthways spokesman Bruce Middlebrooks says officials are reviewing applications from 54 communities across Iowa.

About a dozen communities will be announced as finalists on Feb. 10.

Middlebrooks says site visits will be conducted in March before the top three or so cities are chosen in May as the initial Blue Zones demonstration sites.

Those communities will receive expert help to make permanent environment and policy changes that improve the emotional, physical and social health of each town's residents.

“We're preparing for it as if it's going to happen,” says Jeni Palmer, a HealthCorps member working on the Cedar Rapids efforts through Linn County Public Health.

Cedar Rapids has scheduled a community forum for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at The Hotel At Kirkwood Center, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW.

Leaders from Linn County Public Health, St. Luke's Hospital, Mercy Medical Center and Physicians' Clinic of Iowa will discuss health issues facing the area, followed by an 8 p.m. presentation by Dan Buettner, author of “The Blue Zones.”

The book references places throughout the world where people live longer, healthier lives.

Palmer says the event is open to anyone. The panel will take questions from the audience and the first 100 guests will receive a free copy of “The Blue Zones.”

Palmer notes that other events will be scheduled as the city tries to increase the percentage of residents pledging for the Blue Zones community scoreboard.

The city's 4.1 percent in pledges last week pales in comparison to communities like St. Ansgar, with more than 60 percent of the town texting its support, but is ahead of some of the state's larger cities, including Des Moines and Dubuque.

Community support is one of the factors that will determine the Blue Zones finalists.

Residents can sign up on the Blue Zones website at www.bluezonesproject.com or text BZP to 772937.

“I think we're doing really well,” Palmer says.

The Iowa City area, with just over 2 percent of its residents pledging support, is also looking to boost its numbers, says Kelly McCann, spokeswoman for the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber is leading the efforts in Iowa City, North Liberty and Coralville.

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, visitors to Coralville and Iowa City Hy-Vee stores can register support at Blue Zones stations.

Also that day, the Iowa City Community School District will take part in a text mob, in which students will collectively text support to the Blue Zones.

The events precede the Chamber's annual banquet at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, at the Coralville Marriott, which will feature author Buettner as keynote speaker.

Reservations for the event, which cost $45 per ticket, can be made at www.IowaCityArea.com or by calling (319) 337-9637.

Eastern Iowa communities applying to be a Blue Zones demonstration site include:

• Burlington
• Cedar Falls
• Cedar Rapids
• Clinton
• Davenport
• Decorah
• Dubuque
• Dyersville
• Fairfield
• Grinnell
• Independence
• Iowa City area
• Marshalltown
• Mount Vernon
• Muscatine
• Oelwein
• Ottumwa
• Waterloo
• Waverly