Organizers of the Blue Zones initiative were in Sussex County this week to learn more about how the concept would fit into local communities.

Blue Zones is a community-led effort aimed at getting people to live healthier, more active lifestyles and, ultimately, reduce healthcare costs.

“They’re the lifestyle habits of the world’s longest-lived people,” said Margaret Brown, Blues Zones vice president of business development.

Blue Zones works with community groups and local governments to effect change, from connected sidewalks and green space to food availability.

The national team joined municipal leaders on driving tours of five communities that are taking the lead with Blue Zones: Lewes, Milford, Georgetown, Millsboro and Seaford.

“We took them around, showed them what we’re doing with the bike path and outdoor sporting facilities. They loved what they saw,” said Bill West, mayor of Georgetown.

West was among the elected officials who attended a community keynote event at the Sussex Academy elementary campus Oct. 7. The meeting was an opportunity for citizens to ask questions about Blue Zones.

Several people wanted to know how the initiative might address traffic, pedestrian safety and interconnecting new developments. Brown said it would be up to communities to set their own priorities. 

“You’re not going to get rid of the developments, because there is a housing crisis, but you probably need smarter ways of pedestrian access and bikeability to go along with these developments,” Brown said.

Blue Zones also held focus groups at Delaware Technical Community College on the environment, food systems, schools and more.

“We’ve been gathering a lot of information. We will bring back a report [probably in January] of everything we observed – strengths, opportunities, challenges. We’ll put together a model of what we think results will look like in Sussex County,” Brown said.

After the report is out, Blue Zones will then begin looking for partnerships to help launch the initiative in Sussex County, Brown said.

Blues Zones’ local partners are Beebe Healthcare, United Way, Delaware Health and Social Services, and Partners For Wellbeing.

Blues Zones was founded in 2004 by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic explorer and journalist. The concept is based on his travels to parts of the world where people are healthier and routinely live longer, often well over 100.

Buettner’s brother, Nick, presented the Blue Zones concept to local stakeholders at a gathering Lewes last November.