What's next now that Decorah is a "Blue Zone?"

Now that Decorah has been selected as one of nine smaller communities in Iowa that will take part in the Blue Zones Project, what steps come next?

Tuesday's selection means Decorah will receive help from experts to develop and implement a blueprint for making permanent environmental, social, and policy changes that can lead to Decorah residents leading longer, happier lives.

The Blue Zones Project is based on Blue Zones principles developed by author Dan Buettner, who wrote a book by the same title.  Iowa officials made the book the centerpiece of the Healthiest State Initiative to make Iowa the healthiest state by 2016 as measured by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index®, the first-ever daily assessment of U.S. residents' health and well-being.

Of course, as part of the designation, there will be a number of meetings scheduled in Decorah.  Blue Zones officials will visit Decorah to help the strategy/activity committees, the Leadership Team and the volunteers in the community.