Main Street Marion
2021 Year in Review

February 2, 2022
By: Susan Passmore 

2021 was another very active year for Main Street Marion.  Main Street successfully completed all annual projects to include:  Maintenance of the flower beds at the Fire Station, coordinating projects around the square with the UA Honor’s College Fellows, assisting the City of Marion with Trunk or Treat, installing Christmas Tree Lane in the Pocket Park, decorating empty storefronts for Christmas, hosting the HBCU Pre-Mixer event at the Wilbourne Building, and installation and maintenance of the south side of the Coretta Scott King Garden.  In addition, the entire downtown square was pressure washed and façade improvements of 4 buildings in the downtown area were completed.  To top off the façade improvements downtown, the awnings in front of the old hotel were given a coat of paint and edison bulb lighting. 

​

Annual projects are only one contribution Main Street made in 2021.  Main Street Marion is committed to actively assisting The City of Marion to bring much needed infrastructure to the area.  A specific focus has been made on partnering with eFootprints to bring comprehensive 5g rural broadband to Perry County.  More information on the exciting endeavor will be forthcoming very soon.  Through a team effort organized by Mayor Dexter Hinton, Main Street Marion assisted in obtaining an ATRIP streetscape improvement grant focusing on Highway 14 and the downtown square.  Both of these projects will significantly enhance our community.

​

Main Street Marion is also investing in the future of the City of Marion through the restoration of our historic structures downtown.  The Wilbourne Building Project is nearly completed with the goal of opening the “Marion Art Center” in the summer of 2022.  The Wilbourne Building now holds a Civil Rights exhibit titled “It Started in Marion” and a “Welcome to Historic Marion” mural.  Creating a destination for the tourist market is a major goal for this project as well as providing kiosks for our local and regional artists to show their wares.  Most importantly the art center will provide a safe space for our children to experience arts and crafts at a young age.  

​

Main Street Marion is hopeful that further investment in our historic community will bring additional interest from the tourist market.  We look forward to continued partnership with the City of Marion towards the goal of revitalization of Marion’s historic downtown and business corridor.  2022 will be another wonderful year.  #MovingMarionForward, #OneMarion.