The City of Albert Lea was chosen in December 2008 as the pilot city for a national scientific study to determine if a community could make changes on a community-wide basis that would result in the population living longer, better. This study was established as the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project sponsored by United Health Foundation in collaboration with the University of Minnesota. The study was based on research done by Dan Buettner as reported in his book The Blue Zones. The goal of the study was to assist the community and population in making simple changes allowing the public to move naturally, have the right outlook, eat wisely, and make social connections. A scientific tool, called the Vitality Compass, was designed by the University of Minnesota to determine how the public responded to the study initiatives and made individual changes that statistically extended their healthy life. The established target was to extend statistical longevity by two years per resident. At the end of the first phase of the Vitality Project, the statistical change per participant was over three years of life expectancy gained, an average weight loss of 2 lbs. for every Albert Lea resident, a 20% reduction in absenteeism for key employers, and a community wide effort that engaged 60% of the city’s restaurants, 51% of its employers, 100% of its schools, and 27% of its citizens.

The community is continuing the Vitality Project due to the success of the pilot project through the establishment of The National Vitality Center, located in the historic Jacobson Building at 211 S. Broadway Avenue in Albert Lea. Architectural renditions of the completed facility are illustrated below in the drawings by architect, Patrick Waddick, AIA REED:

Miscellaneous Links of Interest

Here’s a Wikipedia article about the Vitality Project in Albert Lea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AARP/Blue_Zones_Vitality_Project

Here’s an article from the Albert Lea Tribune about the National Vitality Center:
http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/oct/14/plans-vitality-center-unveiled/