Article submitted by Jamie Fleury, The Pilot News Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Common Council voted 5 to 2 in support of Resolution No. 2022-1002, A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Plymouth Pledging Financial Support for the Marshall County Blue Zones Project. Voting against the resolution were council members Greg Compton and Randy Longanecker with approval from members Robert Listenberger, Duane Culp, Jeff Houin, Don Ecker, and Shiloh Carothers Milner. $520,000 was pledged in support of the Blue Zones Transformation.
Culp said that he was initially opposed to Blue Zones until a two hour session with Director of Marshall County Community Foundation and United Way Linda Yoder who also serves on the Marshall County Crossroads Committee. “All of my concerns about this have become enlightened. She did a great job. What I didn’t understand I now do understand.”
He noted that the $520,000 pledged can be paid over a period of four years. “In reading over the literature that Linda had given to me, I’m really pretty impressed.” He illustrated that the initiative also creates opportunity to obtain additional funding, both grant and private funding in support of the project and for further sustainability of Marshall County.
Yoder confirmed that the Town of Culver had already pledged support totaling 25% of their American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Bremen was planning to review potential support in June as they prepare their plan for ARPA funds. Conversations are in process with other Marshall County leadership or are pending soon. “Plymouth will really set a standard here. This will be pivotal I think for other commitments that we expect will come in to support the project.” said Yoder.
Support for the Blue Zones Initiative has the potential to place the Marshall County Crossroads Committee in a favorable position for submitting a Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) Grant application for additional funding.
Once $2.23M is obtained the team can move forward with the first phase of the Blue Zones Transformation which focuses on policy. Yoder emphasized that financial contributors want to see a willingness by leadership to engage in policy change that will benefit their communities and Marshall County as a whole.
Hospital Administrator for Saint Joseph Health System – Plymouth Eric Holsopple illuminated the value of the investment in health and well-being to future generations. “We have a great opportunity ahead of us with the READI Grant to bring a whole bunch of people together to work with consistency instead of working in different silos trying to create change. This is one way for us to do that otherwise we will continue to operate in various silos in which we make some progress but not nearly enough progress that we could anticipate with a READI Grant proposal that would include Blue Zones.”
Member Don Ecker expressed full support of Blue Zones after initial hesitation on the full pledge noting a need for a collective effort to connect with other communities to accomplish the ultimate goal of increased health and well being in Marshall County.
