• 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 Presidential!We Are Generous!
  • 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

  • Flat Stanley

    Taft Elementary: Flat Stanley’s New York Adventure For the first time, Katy Miller’s second grade class at Taft Elementary School sent their Flat Stanley projects across the country to learn about different cultures and communities. One of Miller’s students sent her Flat Stanley to, actor, Billy Peck. You may have seen him in Gotham, Quantico, […]Read More »
  • Alloway

    ALLOWAY. . Alloway is a full-service environmental laboratory specializing in analyses on drinking water, wastewater, and solid and hazardous waste. In addition, Alloway offers innovative software, laboratory development, and training options. . John Hoffman, the president of Alloway, began his career working for Alloway in 1979. The company was owned by a small engineering firm […]Read More »
  • Eaterarian Trail

    MARION IS COOKING UP SOMETHING FOR EVERY PALATE I am not a connoisseur. I am not a gourmet. I am not a foodie. I am an Eaterarian. We all like to find those out-of-the-way eateries with great food, an unassuming atmosphere, and where having a laugh with your friends isn’t considered inappropriate. Marion’s Eaterarian Trail […]Read More »
  • Marion Power Shovel & NASA Crawler-Transporter

    July 16, 2019, marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch. Marion, Ohio, in no small way, was part of that historic mission. Between 1964-66, the former Marion Power Shovel Company designed and built two crawler-transporters – formally known as Missile Crawler Transporter Facilities – for NASA. These enormous tracked vehicles were originally used […]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