Marion Named Blue Zone Finalist

Marion is a finalist for the Blue Zone Project.

If that sentence made no sense to you, the Blue Zone Project is a program that gives a city resources to help its residents live longer and healthier lives. Many cities apply, but few become part of the program.

The Marion Chamber of Commerce finished an application for the designation in August. 

"We understand this process is going to be a lot of work, but are excited to lead our community," said Marion Chamber of Commerce President Jill Ackerman in a release. "Putting Marion on the map as a Blue Zones Project demonstration site is not only good for our citizen’s health and well-being, but also beneficial for a community’s economic development."

But there's still some tough competition.

Altoona, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, Dubuque, Iowa City, Muscatine, Ottumwa, Oskaloosa and Sioux City have also been named finalists. We'll have to wait until January to find out how we faired.

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