SIOUX CITY EARNS BLUE ZONE HEALTHY CITY STATUS

THE SECOND TIME AROUND WAS A SUCCESS FOR SIOUX CITY. AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF OF TRYING, THE CITY HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS ONE OF SIX NEW BLUE ZONE DEMONSTRATION SITES.

IN ACHIEVING HEALTHY CITY STATUS, SIOUX CITY WILL RECEIVE PROGRAM AND FUNDING ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP A BLUEPRINT TO HELP TRANSITION RESIDENTS INTO BEHAVIORS THAT CAN LEAD TO LONGER HEALTHIER LIVES.

DEREK CARMONA SPEARHEADED THE CITY EFFORT AND SAYS STRATEGY CHANGED IN THE SECOND APPLICATION:



MAYOR BOB SCOTT SAYS NEW JOBS WILL BE CREATED THROUGH THE BLUE ZONE EFFORT:



THOSE JOBS WILL BE FOR AROUND THREE YEARS AND ARE FUNDED BY BLUE ZONE GRANT MONEY AND NOT LOCAL TAX DOLLARS.

WELLMARK BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD HAS DONATED FIVE MILLION DOLLARS TOWARDS THE PROGRAM EACH YEAR SINCE IT STARTED IN 2011.

THE BLUE ZONES PROJECT IS THE CENTERPIECE OF AN INITIATIVE TO MAKE IOWA THE HEALTHIEST STATE IN AMERICA BY 2016.