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.

Emma Fitzpatrick Found Start in Marion
Opportunities in Marion gave Emma Fitzpatrick the launchpad she needed in her career. Fitzpatrick, now located in Nashville, has traveled around the globe leaving her mark in the film, television, and music industries. “I felt like growing up the arts were encouraged and valued,” Fitzpatrick says. Fitzpatrick began school at River Valley and transitioned to […]Read More »
Beyond the Sound Bites: League of Women Voters is a Trusted Source for Over 100 Years
Six months before American women won the right to vote in 1920, the national League of Women Voters was created. In the first election after the 19th Amendment passed, Marion native Warren G. Harding was elected U.S. president. Many historians consider the millions of women voters to be a contributing factor in Harding’s victory. Marion […]Read More »
Nurse and Marathoner Left a Legacy of Health
A Marion woman died at age 92 but leaves a long legacy of health and helping patients. Nancy Cline was among the first graduating class of nurses at Marion Technical College in 1973. The family came together to help Nancy succeed. She had two children: Bill and Terry. “I was in high school. I did […]Read More »
RV Wonders
WONDER. Every school year, I begin by reading my students a book called “Wonder.” Wonder is about a little boy named Auggie Pullman who was born with a facial deformity that left him home schooled for most of his life. He and his parents decide to send him to a private school when he’s in […]Read More »