From Strong Towns
In Summary:
Marion, Ohio’s remarkable turnaround began when residents stopped waiting for outside investment and started improving their city one small project at a time. From inclusive playgrounds to community markets and recovery housing, citizens and local organizations tackled problems through practical, people-centered initiatives. This shift from dependency on major development projects to empowering local action reignited civic pride, improved quality of life, and reshaped the city’s identity — earning Marion the title of “Strongest Town in America.” Their story is proof that resilience can grow from the ground up when communities embrace collaboration and self-reliance.
Related: 29 Benches, 1 Mission: How Spokane residents stepped up to improve transit and safety.
Marion, Ohio, didn’t land a massive new employer or pour millions into a downtown megaproject. Instead, it found strength in something much more powerful: people choosing to make their place better in whatever way they can.
Marion’s story is familiar. Once home to several big industrial companies, the city was left reeling when its factories closed. Jobs disappeared, the tax base shrank, and disinvestment set in. For years, the city tried the standard turnaround tactics: chasing outside investment, widening roads, and waiting for something big to save them.
But as the decline continued, the city came to a realization: “No one is coming to rescue us. It is us,” said James Walker, a Marion resident and Regional Planning Commission staff member.
Local leaders, nonprofits, and residents turned their attention from big outside projects to a simple question: What small thing can we do right now to make life better here? That question became Marion’s quiet revolution.
Parents of children with disabilities wanted an inclusive playground…so they built one.
Kids didn’t have access to lunch programs during the Covid-19 lockdown…so a schoolteacher started delivering free sandwiches throughout town.
Downtown Marion didn’t have access to fresh produce…so local organizations banded together to build a community market.
Addiction and homelessness affected many Marion residents…so community groups opened a recovery center and built tiny homes.
Separately, these acts might seem insignificant in the face of citywide decline. Together, they made a major impact on residents’ daily lives and the way they saw their city.
Once, the city was filled with signs reading, “Heroin Is Marion’s Economy.” Today, those signs have changed. “Hope Is Marion’s Economy,” they declare. That hope let Marion beat the odds and become the Strongest Town in America earlier this year.
Marion didn’t wait for someone else to fix its problems. It built strength one action, one conversation, and one block at a time. That mindset — rooted in care, humility, and local capacity — has turned the city into a national example of recovery and how to do a lot of amazing things with very little resources. Learn how your city can do the same in a virtual workshop on November 6 at noon CT. Evelyn Warr-Omness — director of the Marion City/County Regional Planning Commission — will walk you through the mindset and practical steps that helped save her city.
How Apopka could utilize this plan:
Apopka could draw inspiration from Marion’s model by focusing on small, community-led projects that make tangible improvements in residents’ daily lives. Rather than relying solely on large developers or outside funding, city leaders could encourage grassroots efforts — like neighborhood beautification, youth mentorship, small business support, or micro-park development — to foster civic pride and momentum. By empowering residents, local nonprofits, and schools to take ownership of small-scale improvements, Apopka could strengthen its sense of community, improve public spaces, and build long-term resilience — one action, one block, and one idea at a time.
