• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Having Fun!We Are Generous!We Are Presidential!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Competing in Strongest Town Competition

By Wendy Weichenthal on March 12, 2025

decorative graphic with logo

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. 

 

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • Marion Industrial Center

    The impact of the Marion Industrial Center on the Marion community and economy can easily be overlooked if you don’t understand what an intermodal transportation center does. Intermodal freight transportation is a combination of two or more different shipping modes like a truck, rail, ship, or aircraft to move freight to the final destination. By […]Read More »
  • Local Entrepreneurs Awarded $7,500 in Alluvial Private Wealth Forge Competition

    Nine entrepreneurs competed for thousands of dollars in prizes at the Alluvial Private Wealth Forge Competition on Oct. 8. Six winners won prize money to start or grow their businesses, thanks to three generous local sponsors: Alluvial Private Wealth; Gary Ferriman, owner of Showplace Rent-to-Own; and Steve and Brenda Johnston. In addition, all finalists received […]Read More »
  • Cummins Facility Services

    CUMMINS FACILITY SERVICES: CLEANING UP LIFE’S MESSES. Cummins Facility Services (CFS) has been part of the fabric of the Marion business community since 1972, when Ron and Myra Cummins got their start providing janitorial services to local area businesses. Forty-five years later and CFS still calls Marion home; but, under the leadership of Ron and […]Read More »
  • Huber Shaped Marion and Inspires Students Today

      (Marion) The Huber Machinery Museum at the Marion County Fairgrounds takes visitors on a journey from the 1800s, when hay was cut by hand with a scythe, through more than 150 years of Marion history, changes, and innovation. Visitors see how a local inventor sparked the creation of tractors, steam shovels, threshers, and eventually […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2026 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image