Downtown Marion, Inc. and the Future of Historic Downtown Marion
- May 20
- 7 min read
Downtown Marion, Inc. has become one of the main organizing forces behind Marion’s historic downtown. Its work connects events, businesses, volunteers, projects and partnerships that are bringing more activity into the district.
In May, that work received national recognition when DMI was designated a 2026 Affiliate Main Street America program, placing the organization among 453 nationally recognized Affiliate Main Street America organizations working through a model focused on preservation-based economic development and community revitalization.
That work has become increasingly visible.
Third Thursday brings music, vendors and crowds. Taste of Downtown sends people from business to business. Cleanup days put volunteers on sidewalks and in alleys. Preservation projects mark buildings that help define the district’s history.
DMI’s business support also includes the Downtown Marion Business Owner Collaborative, which it has helped facilitate for the past four years.
In February, DMI shifted the format and hosted its first evening meeting, giving more business owners a chance to gather, compare notes and talk through downtown events, partnerships, Second Saturdays in Downtown Marion and the day-to-day work of keeping momentum moving in the district.
For Board President, Jenny Lust, that kind of owner-to-owner connection reflects the larger business culture DMI is trying to support downtown: “I wholeheartedly believe in community over competition.”
One of DMI’s recurring challenges is correcting the assumption that the organization is part of the City of Marion or tied to Henry Development Group and Main Street Reimagined.
“Though they are doing great things for downtown, we’re our own nonprofit,” Executive Director, Allen Wilson said.
City services, private development, tenant decisions and individual business outcomes fall outside DMI’s authority. The organization’s role is more specific: organize, promote and support Marion’s downtown while helping connect the people, businesses and projects operating inside it.
Downtown Marion, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit governed by a 22-member volunteer board that includes downtown business owners, civic leaders, elected officials and community development representatives.
DMI states its mission simply: “bringing the heart back to downtown.”
Wilson frames that work in broader civic terms. “All strong and vital communities possess strong and vital downtowns…without exception!” Wilson wrote in a public message on DMI’s website.
That philosophy helps explain DMI’s Main Street approach: using events, business support, beautification, preservation and volunteer coordination to strengthen Marion’s historic downtown district.
How DMI began
Like many industrial Midwest towns in the late 1990's, Marion’s downtown suffered as major manufacturing shifted and retail moved to suburban shopping centers. In response, an informal group of business owners and local advocates — including Lois Fisher, Evelyn Warr-Cummings and Ken Lengieza — began meeting to establish a unified “voice” for downtown retailers.
That early grassroots effort later connected with Marion County EnVISIONing the 21st Century, a broader community planning process that examined Marion’s long-term needs. One conclusion was that downtown needed a permanent, structured organization focused on economic renewal, historic preservation and commercial viability.
By 2000, that work had produced the Downtown Marion Advisory Board, formed as a division of Marion CANDO! The board placed downtown revitalization inside Marion’s economic-development structure and brought residents, business owners, property owners, churches, civic groups and public officials into the same discussion.
Several people and organizations shaped the early period.
Marion CANDO! provided the advisory board’s early structure. Mayor Scott Schertzer’s administration was in office during DMI’s 2008 incorporation and early growth years.
Fisher became one of the early real-estate figures tied to Marion’s modern downtown revival. Karen Gilliam and Nadine Slone were part of the early business-owner movement when they purchased and operated Charleston Place in 2001.
Wilson pointed to Lowell Thurston’s decision to rebuild Carroll’s Jewelers downtown after a 2002 fire destroyed his original shop at 172 W. Center St. In 2004, Thurston bought and renovated a vacant tire and tractor warehouse at 207 W. Center St., gutting the structure and turning it into a modern 2,800-square-foot jewelry showroom. Wilson described the project as an early example of private reinvestment that aligned with the design and economic-vitality principles DMI later organized around.
The advisory board eventually moved toward independence.
In 2008, it incorporated as Downtown Marion, Inc. Wilson identified Matt Tway, Lori Stevenson, Tom Stotts and Mike Augenstein as part of the foundational board leadership that helped guide the organization through its early legal, financial and operational setup.
In early 2009, DMI secured 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, giving the organization a legal and financial base for fundraising, grant work, volunteer coordination, public events and preservation efforts.
DMI then aligned its work with the national Main Street model.
What DMI reported for 2025
By 2025, DMI’s work was taking shape in measurable ways: events, jobs, investment, housing, volunteer activity and public reach.
DMI reported 22 events in 2025, drawing more than 24,000 attendees and generating an estimated economic impact of nearly $492,000. The district also welcomed seven new businesses, created 43 net new jobs and maintained 195 residential units downtown.
DMI also reported more than $6.2 million invested into downtown through private rehabilitation projects and public investment initiatives. That figure reflects investment in downtown projects and infrastructure, not public funding for DMI’s operations.
Volunteer work made up another measurable part of the year. DMI counted 1,359 volunteer hours in 2025, valued at more than $44,000, supporting beautification, events and community programming. The organization also reported a social media reach of more than 5.8 million people.
“Receiving designation as a 2026 Affiliate Main Street America program is a tremendous honor for Downtown Marion, Inc. and a reflection of the hard work, passion, and dedication of our board members, volunteers, business owners, community partners, and supporters,” Wilson said.
Events built to move people through downtown
DMI’s events calendar is one of the most visible parts of its work, but the events are far more involved than dates on a community calendar. Each one requires months of planning, sponsor coordination, vendor communication, volunteer support, business participation, logistics, promotion and on-the-ground execution.
The goal is foot traffic, but also something larger: stronger business relationships, repeat visits, downtown habits and more reasons for residents and visitors to see Marion’s historic core as an active district.
Third Thursdays
Held May through September, Third Thursdays bring live music, food trucks, street vendors and family activities into downtown Marion. The series has become one of DMI’s signature public events, drawing crowds into the district during the warmer months.
Taste of Downtown
Taste of Downtown sends guests business to business for food, drinks and samples from participating downtown restaurants, bars and shops. The event turns downtown into a walkable tasting route and gives businesses a chance to bring new customers through their doors.
Downtown Marion Chocolate Walk
The Downtown Marion Chocolate Walk brings guests into the district during the winter months, sending participants from business to business for chocolate, treats, shopping and conversation. The 2026 event began at the Harding Centre, where participants checked in, picked up gift bags and followed maps through participating downtown stops.
Downtown Marion Cookie Walk
The Cookie Walk invites participants to visit local businesses while collecting cookies along the way. The event encourages shopping, foot traffic and holiday-season activity inside the downtown district.
Monster Dash 5K
The Monster Dash 5K is part of DMI’s Halloween-season programming. The race brings runners and walkers downtown for a community event tied to fitness, seasonal fun and downtown visibility.
Monster March Trick or Treat
Monster March gives children and families a safe downtown trick-or-treat experience, with participating businesses welcoming families through the district during the Halloween season.
Fall Festival
The Fall Festival brings live music, food trucks, vendors and seasonal activities downtown. The event gives residents and visitors another reason to gather in the district outside the summer concert season.
Downtown Christmas Parade
The Christmas Parade is one of downtown Marion’s long-running holiday traditions, drawing large crowds for floats, lights and community celebration through the center of town.
Founder’s Park Tree Lighting
The Founder’s Park Tree Lighting marks the start of the holiday season downtown, bringing the community together for a public gathering in one of the district’s central spaces.
Pictures With Santa & The Grinch
This holiday photo event gives families another reason to visit downtown during the Christmas season while connecting seasonal activity with local businesses.
Christmas Market
Held alongside the holiday season, the Christmas Market features vendors, crafts, gifts and treats, creating a downtown shopping experience tied to the Christmas Parade and other seasonal programming.
DMI Christmas Gala
The Christmas Gala is DMI’s holiday fundraising and community event, featuring food, music, a cash bar and entertainment while supporting the organization’s downtown work.
Projects that shape the district
Beyond events, DMI’s work extends into projects and campaigns designed to strengthen the downtown experience between major public gatherings. These efforts focus on beautification, preservation, local spending, public art, seasonal atmosphere and community participation.
Like the events, these projects require coordination. They involve business owners, volunteers, sponsors, artists, city departments, property owners and community groups working across different pieces of downtown life. The goal is to make the district more active, more walkable, more recognizable and more connected to its history.
Downtown Marion Dollars
Downtown Marion Dollars is a digital gift card program that encourages people to shop, dine and spend money inside the downtown district. The program keeps local dollars moving through downtown businesses.
The Cardinal Project
The Cardinal Project is a public art initiative featuring 17 five-foot-tall cardinal statues placed throughout downtown Marion. Each statue was designed by a local artist, adding color, creativity and public art to the district.
Adopt-a-Flower Bed
The Adopt-a-Flower Bed program invites businesses, residents and community groups to help maintain downtown flower beds. The project supports beautification while giving people a direct role in caring for the district.
Downtown Spring Cleanup
Spring Cleanup brings volunteers downtown to clean sidewalks, alleys and public spaces. The campaign helps prepare the district for the busier event season while showing the volunteer side of DMI’s work.
Window Decorating Contest
The Window Decorating Contest encourages downtown businesses to create seasonal storefront displays. The campaign adds visual interest to the district and gives people another reason to walk, shop and explore downtown.
Downtown Street Christmas Decorations
DMI helps decorate downtown streets for the holiday season, adding lights, displays and seasonal atmosphere to the district during one of the busiest times of year.
Bronze Plaque Project
The Bronze Plaque Project marks historic downtown buildings with plaques that explain their significance. The project connects preservation, education and downtown storytelling.
Downtown Arch Project
The Downtown Arch Project is funded through a state grant awarded to Downtown Marion, Inc. According to the city’s project update, the City of Marion helped coordinate required survey and engineering work for the project. DMI has said the total project cost includes professional services such as surveying, civil engineering and structural engineering, along with the materials needed to build the arch.
