‘More 4 Manchester’ Aims to Increase Community’s Overall Well-Being

A pilot program is aiming to increase the overall well-being of residents in Manchester.

Manchester was one of two communities chosen for the program led by the Iowa Rural Vitality Coalition, which is made up of experts from Iowa’s three Regents universities, Wellmark and the Iowa Rural Development Council. It was launched in April. Experts are collecting extensive data on Manchester and Van Buren County so they eventually know how to make the most strategic investments in public health. 

Jason Henderson, vice president of Iowa State University’s Extension and Outreach, says they hope the program has very long-lasting effects.

Edith Parker, dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa, says setting up the plan will take several years as it needs to be carefully plotted out.

Julie Frick serves on the committee for the Manchester pilot program, which they have decided to name “More 4 Manchester”.

The planning team from Manchester first held a community meeting in June to introduce the program and gather input from community members, with their second meeting held Tuesday at Pin Oak. They’ll hold a third follow-up meeting in November – and after that, they’ll start planning their Ignite event.

Frick says it’s just heartwarming to so many people wanting to be involved in making Manchester the best it can be.