The Virginia Main Street Program announced updated program statistics for their 28 designated Main Street Communities, and Marion once again posted impressive numbers.
“We are delighted to continue to lead economic development through historic preservation,” said Marion’s Director of Community and Economic Development Ken Heath. “Marion’s numbers are consistently some of the best in the Commonwealth, and we continue to strive to make our community better and stronger every day.”
Through innovative programs like “Pop Up Marion” Entrepreneur Boot Camp and the USDA-Rural Development Small Business Loan Pool, Marion has trained nearly 350 entrepreneurs and assisted with starting and expanding businesses every year since the program started in 1994. Now in its 29th year, Marion Downtown marks over $41 million in private reinvestment, an additional $35.7 million in public reinvestment, and over 1,000 jobs created or retained. Last year alone, Marion saw more than $550,000 in private reinvestment and 31 jobs created or retained in the historic downtown district.
“To me, the biggest numbers on the report are the costs associated with success,” said Heath. “We are well below the state average for cost per job created (at just under $3,000 per job). The other remarkable number is the volunteer investment – time donated from community-minded folks that also run their own businesses and have their own lives, but know how important our downtown is to the community. Since 1994, over 32,000 hours have been donated, with a value of just under a million dollars.”
Marion Downtown provides overall guidance and assistance for businesses in the historic downtown, and Heath’s office extends those services to all businesses within the Town of Marion. Events from the summer Cruise Ins to the popular July “Hungriest Mother Festival” and the October Chili Championship also are part of the Marion Downtown program.
“The Town of Marion is fortunate to be a part of the Virginia Main Street Program,” said Marion Mayor David Helms. “It’s part of our brand, and people across the state recognize our accomplishments because of this partnership.”
For more information on Marion Downtown or on how to open or expand your business in Marion, contact Ken Heath at (276) 378-5026 or email [email protected].
