Why invest in Downtown Marion Inc? 

All strong and vital communities possess strong and vital downtowns…without exception!

● 42 new retail stores, restaurants, public education entities, and professional services businesses since 2018

●      Over 350 new full and part-time positions responsible for over $11 million in wages and salaries since 2018 

Downtown Marion has become the cultural hub of our community

●      2000-3000 of all ages at each Third Thursday event

● Weekly farmer’s markets

● Monster March Trick or Treat serves over 2000 children each year

● Loft Tours

● Annual 5k race

● 3000 attend the new nighttime Christmas Parade

● 1500 at the annual Tree Lighting

● All participating churches report large crowds for the annual Holiday Church Tours

● 400 children visit Santa at his house in Founders Park and each receives a present

● Two Saturdays of Secret Shopper for children during the Christmas season

● Highly successful Taste of Marion promotes downtown restaurants

● 108 downtown buildings are now named to the National Register of Historic Places as of 2022…aggressively protecting our history!

 Keeping local dollars within our community

● Downtown merchants have enjoyed great staying power in the past five years

● Over 40 buildings have changed ownership in the past five years

● Downtown real estate has tripled in value over the past decade

● Downtown merchants report a dramatic increase in out-of-town customers

Downtown Marion, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 organization in good standing. Your investment in DMI will be governed and managed by a 22-member volunteer board of directors comprised of civic leaders, city and county elected officials, downtown merchants, and professional community development strategists. Donations to Downtown Marion, Inc. are tax deductible as allowed by law.