Marion Faces Competition for Blue Zone Tag from Cedar Rapids, Iowa City

Marion residents and the Marion Chamber of Commerce have been hard at work applying for the Blue Zone Project.

This designation could give the resources to help the community live longer and healthier lives.

But they aren't the only ones applying, according to the Gazette.

Marion faces competition from Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Both larger cities are vying for next year's designation. was a finalist last year.

The applications are due later this month. We'll find out which cities have been chosen in January.

Last year, , Mason City and Spencer became Iowa's first batch of Blue Zones.

So, if you are a little intimidated by the competition, or you just want to help out, we have instructions for how you can help .