Marion Competing in Strongest Town Competition

The Marion Community is going head-to-head with 15 other North American cities in the 10th Annual Strongest Town Contest.

Marion has advanced to the Sweet-Sixteen this week and needs everyone in Marion, in Ohio, and around the country to cast their vote for us! In this bracket-style voting tournament, Marion will compete for the “Strongest Town” title by shining a national spotlight on the work it’s doing to become a stronger, more resilient city.

Cast your vote for Marion this week and every week at strongesttown.com.

Voting is open Monday through Thursday at 1 p.m. EST

Progress, Not Perfection

The Strongest Town Contest celebrates progress, not perfection. A “strong town” is any town, big or small, that is taking tangible steps to overcome its transportation, housing, or financial challenges. Strong Towns refers to this methodology as the “Strong Towns Approach,” and this contest spotlights the work of city residents and leaders who are using this approach to become more resilient over time.

Strongest Town Voting

Here’s how voting works. Competitors advance over five, weekly rounds. Anyone can vote once per week, and votes are tallied Monday through Thursday at 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Winners are notified each Friday.

In the first, risk-free round, Marion competed with three other cities for an honorary title to recognize its efforts toward “Rightsizing Parking Policy.”

All cities advanced to Round 2, when bracket-style eliminations will begin and winners will advance based on the number of votes collected that week.

Brackets

* Round 1: Meet Your Contestants (March 3-6).
* Round 2: Sweet Sixteen (March 10-13)
* Round 3: Elite Eight (March 17-20).
* Round 4: Final Four (March 24-27).
* Round 5: Championship (March 31-April 3).

Show the world how strong we are.

We Are Strong. We Are MarionMade! #MarionStrong #StrongestTown #OhioVersusTheWorld

How did Marion get nominated?

James Walker from the Marion County Regional Planning Commission nominated Marion. Read more here: Strongest Town Contest

What is Strong Towns?

Strong Towns is a 501c(3) non-profit and media advocacy organization that shifts conversations around the North American development pattern. Through reports, articles, podcasts, videos, live events and professional coaching, it provides knowledge and tools to help cities transform their communities. Learn more at strongesttown.com.

MarionMade! is a program of Marion Technical College.

TRIO Talent Search Opens Doors to College and Career Options
For teens and tweens at the family dinner table, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” may be a question they dread. The TRIO Talent Search team helps more than 500 students at 13 local middle and high schools to explore colleges and career options and chart a course for their future. […]Read More »
New Owner Continues Proud Marion Tradition
Despite the pandemic, Ed Emerson was ready to bet on a Marion business. This veteran purchased Promo Costumes in Downtown Marion in September 2020 from long-time owners Lyn and Dan Giles. Emerson drives from his home in the Brewery District in Columbus to his enterprise on West Center Street. The unassuming storefront leads into a […]Read More »
Corporate America Family Credit Union
Corporate America Family Credit Union (CAFCU) was one of the first credit unions to exist in Marion, and this is where their story began. Over 80 years ago, 15 Automatic Electric Company employees formed the credit union to take ownership of their finances. Formally known as GTE Employees Federal Credit Union, and headquartered here in […]Read More »
Work Ethic & Marion Love: Hemmerly’s Since 1934
A strong work ethic runs in the family and these women have passed it down through generations. Terra Dildine, the owner of Hemmerly’s Flowers & Gifts since 2015, said her mom started working there at the age of 15 when the store was owned by Trella Romine Hemmerly. In 2000, Terra’s mother bought the shop […]Read More »