SIOUX CITY | After nearly two years, Sioux City was became a certified Blue Zones Community.
Brought to Iowa through an innovative sponsorship by Wellmark in collaboration with Healthways and Blue Zones, the Blue Zones Project initiative encourages all of the state’s communities to optimize their surroundings to make the healthy choice the easy choice.
“We are proud to be named a certified Blue Zones Community,” Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott said upon learning of the designation. “The Blue Zones Project has brought new ideas and passion around well-being to our community and has bolstered the efforts that were already in place, leading to so many positive changes for our city.”
Community leaders, volunteers and organizations throughout Sioux City have been working to achieve certification status since January 2013, when the community was named a Blue Zones Project demonstration site.
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Certification recognizes Sioux City’s community transformation through successful implementation of Blue Zones Project, a first-of-its-kind population health program that brings the world's best practices in food policy, built environment, purpose and social networking to participating cities.
To reach the certification goal, Sioux City met required participation goals for worksites, schools, restaurants, grocery stores and citizens.
“Sioux City has done a remarkable amount of work to make the pursuit of well-being a way of life,” said Laura Jackson, Wellmark executive vice president. “The policies and programs implemented in the community serve as great examples for other Iowa communities. We congratulate Sioux City on achieving Blue Zones Community status.”
The Blue Zones Project is a key component of Iowa's Healthiest State Initiative. In 2011, Gov. Terry Branstad unveiled the initiative, through which Iowa hopes to become the healthiest state in the nation, as measured by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, within five years.
“We know that communities with greater well-being have lower health care costs, higher productivity, and are recognized among the best places to live, work, and play,” Katrina Worlund, Healthways senior vice president, Blue Zones Project, said following the city's certification.
“With its dedication to well-being improvement, Sioux City has set itself apart from other communities across the U.S. in a way that will not only improve the health of its citizens, but will also enhance its economic and social vitality for years to come.”
