Heritage Ohio Welcomes Downtown Marion as the State’s Newest Affiliate Main Street Program
Heritage Ohio is proud to welcome Downtown Marion, Inc. as the state’s newest Affiliate Main Street Community, marking a major step forward in the city’s downtown revitalization. This recognition builds on a partnership that began in 2022 and highlights Marion’s long-term commitment to revitalizing the heart of the city through local leadership, historic preservation and community collaboration.
The announcement comes as Marion celebrates winning the national Strongest Town Contest presented by Strong Town’s. The city stood out for its hands-on, inclusive planning, including the “Love Your Neighborhood” initiative, which brings residents and city staff together to clean up neighborhoods, identify challenges and co-create solutions. Flexible zoning encourages infill development, and grassroots innovations like mid-block crosswalks and strategic transit partnerships are making Marion’s core more walkable and connected.
“Marion has done incredible work building capacity, recruiting strong volunteers for leadership positions, and hiring an outstanding executive director who has a sincere passion for his community,” said Matt Wiederhold, executive director of Heritage Ohio. “They’ve demonstrated a local commitment to preserving their architectural history, securing sustainable funding, and establishing strategic partnerships with local leaders. We’re excited to continue supporting their progress.”
The Ohio Main Street Program, based on Main Street America’s proven four-point approach to revitalization, helps communities like Marion transform their historic business districts into vibrant centers of civic and economic life. As an Affiliate Main Street Community, Marion continues to grow its visibility and credibility statewide, drawing from a strong peer network and increasing its capacity to attract investment and talent to its historic core.
“This advancement reflects the dedication of everyone involved in Downtown Marion,” said Allen Wilson, Executive Director of Downtown Marion, Inc. “It opens new opportunities for growth and deeper community engagement. We’re proud to be part of this network and eager to keep moving forward with Heritage Ohio’s support.”
Marion joins twenty other Ohio Main Street communities—including Coshocton, Delaware, Kent, Lorain, Marietta, Medina, Middletown, Millersburg, Painesville, Piqua, Ravenna, Tiffin, Tipp City, Troy, Van Wert, Vermillion, Wadsworth, Wellington, Westerville and Wooster.
For more information regarding the Heritage Ohio Main Street Program, contact Heritage Ohio at 614.258.6200 or visit heritageohio.org.