Big Welcome for Blue Zones Team in Cedar Falls

About 100 people welcomed a Blue Zones Project team to the  Feb. 28.

The group, which will select three Iowa towns as Blue Zone Communities, was in Cedar Falls to hear directly from community members why their town should be chosen.

The Blue Zones Project will bring health and wellness experts to the selected demonstration communities. Those experts will work with community leaders, local businesses and town residents on collaborations to develop the health of the entire town.

The project is part of Iowa's Healthiest State Initiative, which aims to move Iowa toward being the healthiest state in the nation. According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, Iowa is the 16th healthiest state, up from it's previous standing as the 19th healthiest.

, along with Waterloo and nine other towns, as a finalist community. The three demonstration communities will be chosen in early May.

Additionally, smaller towns will also be selected, though the details of that are still being worked out.

At the site visit Tuesday, community members spent over two hours presenting the reasons Cedar Falls should be chosen, from strong local businesses and a high commitment to volunteering to partnerships with the  to the local system of bike trails.

Presenters also pointed out that over 15 percent of Cedar Falls residents have pledged their support for the project on the Blue Zones website.

The presentation was hosted by KWWL anchors Tara Thomas and Ron Steele.