ABOUT US

Recognizing Our Past & Redefining Our Future

The vision of Downtown Marion Inc. is the revitalization of downtown Marion as a central hub of the community, restoring it to its former state of functionality, accessibility, and profitability. We will accomplish this by focusing on the downtown area as the ‘heart’ of Marion County; increasing its ability to thrive as a business, cultural, governmental, and residential center of economic growth.

Philosophy

Downtown Marion, Inc. from its inception built the organization on the Main Street principles philosophy. By strengthening the existing assets of the downtown area and reclaiming it as a center of activities for the community and its visitors, Downtown Marion, Inc. provides a service that reaps economic benefits for the community.  As capable partners, Downtown Marion, Inc., Marion government agencies, businesses, residents, non-profit and for-profit organizations, churches, and residents are working together to bring the downtown commercial and residential corridors back to life.

The Main Street 4 Point Philosophy is designed to stimulate downtown revitalization through the use of:

  • Organization involves getting everyone working toward the same goal and assembling the appropriate human and financial resources to implement a revitalization program; building partnerships with diverse groups interested in downtown revitalization; building leadership and support within the downtown community of businesses, building owners, residents, non-profit and for-profit organizations, churches and business groups.

  • Promotion markets a positive image of the commercial district and encourages consumers and investors to live, work, shop, play, and invest in downtown Marion; promotion involves using every opportunity to present to the community and to visitors the vitality and thriving spark of a downtown that is transforming itself.

  • Design means getting downtown Marion into top physical shape which increases its ability to capitalize on its best assets; enhancing the visual image and quality of the downtown by giving attention to all elements of the environment, including signs, storefronts, landscaping, and displays, street appearance and encouraging the addition of green space.

  • Economic Restructuring strengthening the community’s existing economic assets; activities include working towards a balanced retail mix, creating a building and property inventory for the commercial district and encouraging the conversion of vacant buildings into housing, offices, entertainment, or cultural facilities; developing a grassroots effort to expand the economic base of downtown Marion.

Downtown Marion Board of Directors


Andrea Mullins - Board President

Downtown Property Owner, Downtown Business Owner, Shovel City Drinkery

Cheryl Wickersham - Board Vice-President

Sony Dawson - Board Treasurer
The Union Bank

Brenda Johnston - Board Secretary
Johnston Supply

Lois Fisher
Lois J. Fisher & Associates

Matt Tway

Lori Stevenson - Marion Community Foundation


Matt Carbary
Sims Brothers Recycling

Matt Frericks – Downtown Business Owner
Frericks and Howard, L.P.A.

Pat Case
Great Impressions Interiors LLC

Josh Cooper- Downtown Property Owner, Downtown Business Owner
RE/MAX Real Estate

Sandy Graff
Verne Hart Insurance

Brooke Olson – Downtown Business Owner
Alluvial Private Wealth

Mike Augenstein
Marion Technical College

Lindsey Henry - Downtown Property Owner, Downtown Business Owner
The Union, The Brickyard, Topped

Patrick Graham

GP Properties, LLC

Standing Members

Scott Schertzer - Mayor, City of Marion

Mark Davis - Marion County Commissioner

Ayers Ratliff - 2nd Ward City Council of Marion

Ex-officio Board Members

Allen Wilson, Manager - Downtown Marion, Inc.

Heidi Jones - Marion Area Chamber of Commerce President

Evelyn Warr-Omness - Board Chair, Design Committee
Marion City/County Regional Planning Commission

Meggie Breeding - Recording Secretary
Boys and Girls Club

Denny Ferguson - Marion CANDO!

Vaughn Sizemore
Contracted