The City of Marion, where Main Street meets the mountains.
A Main Street Community
Marion is a North Carolina Main Street Community, designated by the NC Department of Commerce and Main Street and Rural Planning Center. Marion Business Association, Inc. is charged with administering the program at the local level and building a public-private partnership to spur economic development in partnership with the state agency.
A Recognized Leader
As a Main Street America™ Accredited program, Marion Buesiness Association is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic evelopment. All Main Street America™ Accredited programs meet a set of National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by the National Main Street Center.
Explore OUR World
The Marion Business Association, Inc. was founded in 1984 to promote the needs and interests of businesses in the downtown community.
A Sense Of Community
The Marion Business Association (MBA) provides citizens with a sense of community by coordinating full calendar of events such as the Liver Mush Festival, Fourth of July Celebration, and Mountain Glory Festival. (See Calendar of Events) The popular Sidewalk Yard Sales are organized in May and August each year. The MBA provides technical assistance to a variety of organizations that now host Downtown Events, including the Carolina Donut Festival and Marion Cruise-Ins.
Since 2007, Marion Business Association has coordinated the Historic Marion Tailgate Market. In 2009, all with community contributions, the City of Marion built a 5,000 sf shade shelter to house the Market. The Marion Tailgate Market Shelter now host various community events such as Car Shows, Fall Festival and the Summer Concert Series.
