Iowa City has officially become a Blue Zone following an announcement in Des Moines Wednesday.

According to an Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce press release, the group learned this morning following a news conference and reception held at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Des Moines.

Over the next year, the city will follow other communities that have been designated as Blue Zones to learn more about the process and “build a strong foundation to achieve healthier lifestyles.” The chamber will receive assistance from national experts beginning in 2014 to help maintain the Blue Zone status, the release said.

“We are elated to have been selected as a Blue Zones community,” said Nancy Quellhorst, the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, in a release. “Blue Zones strategies will reduce health-care costs and positively affect the at-large community.”

Cedar Rapids, Marion, Muscatine, Oskaloosa, and Sioux City were also on the list of Blue Zone sites.

The Blue Zones program is part of the Branstad’s Healthiest State Initiative.