Each month, we feature an Ohio Legacy City on our #GOPCThread series, #OHCommunitySpotlight. This month, we spotlight Central Ohio’s Marion, which this year marks its bicentennial. A former manufacturing hub and hometown of the 29th President of the United States, Marion is today a city on the move!

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There’s a lot going on in #MarionOH, population 65K, and the focus of this week's #GOPCThread. Marion -founded in 1822- is rich is presidential history but also has its sights squarely on the future. Grab a #Stewarts & let’s check this place out!

Let’s start with @MarionMadeOhio an award-winning campaign, started by @MarionCommFound & run by @MarionTech. It builds community pride by highlighting local people, products, places & programs and shows just how collaborative #Marionaires are. #GOPCThread

History buffs will know #MarionOH as both the birth and burial place of President #WarrenGHarding. The restored Harding Home and porch, press house, and temple-like Harding Memorial are open to the public @NatlParkService, #GOPCThread

In 2021 The Warren G. Harding Presidential Library & Museum opened giving #MarionOH a new anchor & citizens more ways to learn about Harding. A project of @OhioHistory, it contains artifacts & offers a more complete picture of the often maligned president

#MarionOH has a long history of manufacturing. In its early years, #MarionSteamShovel made shovels used in at the #PanamaCanal, #HooverDam, & #HollandTunnel. In the early 60’s NASA hired them to design a “crawler” to move rockets to their launch pads. #GOPCThread, @NASA

Manufacturing remains important to #MarionOH’s economy. Dryers, corrugated boxes, specialty steel products, auto parts, and windows, are made there. @whirlpoolcor @IntlPaperCo @NucorCorp #SilverLineWindows @AndersenWindows #PistonAutomotive #GOPCThread

A rural county with rolling hills & rich soil, farming and ag-related industries are also important to #MarionOH’s economy. The co. has over 615 farms covering more than 200K acres. Livestock, corn, soybeans, oats, barley, & X-mas trees are grown there.

Fertilizer and in-furrow product manufacturing, ethanol production, livestock and human food production are all happening in the area too. #GOPCThread #MorralCompanies #NachursAlpine #Ohiogro @POETbiofuels #ReConserveofOhio #WyandotInc

#MarionOH professes to be America’s Workforce Development Capital. County industry & education leaders are delivering on that commitment @marioncando @MarionTech @OSUMarion @ramtec_ohio #TriRiversCareerCenter #MarionAreaChamberofCommerce @MCSPresidents

Their partnership #Marion Area Workforce Acceleration Collaborative connects students to ed programs helping employers fill jobs. #MadeinMarion is an annual event that gives students the chance to explore manufacturing careers and connect with employers.

The #Marion Area Employer Resource Network helps support employee retention. Members have access to a #SuccessCoach that works with employees & assists them in removing barriers to successful employment, including offering hardship loans. @MattersMarion

Partnerships are also driving #MarionOH’s emergence as a robotics center. Since 2004 #MarionOH has hosted #TheNationalRoboticsChallenge drawing contestants from around the country and @ramtec_ohio offers robotics training and certification. #GOPCThread

It’s not surprising that a place so steeped in history also has a historically significant downtown. Earlier this month the downtown district was added to the National Register of Historic Places thanks to hard work lead by @DowntownMarionO.

.@DowntownMarionO has lots of shops, restaurants, bars, exciting murals, & even a children’s museum in an historic Carnegie library. In the last two years, 27 new businesses have opened in the newly designated downtown historic district #ExploreItTorium

#MarionOH is a popcorn lover’s dream! Wyandot Popcorn Museum is named for the legacy snack co. & occupies a repurposed post office. The museum contains antique popcorn wagons & peanut roasters. There is also an annual #MarionPopcornFestival.

Other notable d’town buildings are @marionpalace, listed on the National Register of Historic Places & designed to evoke a Spanish castle & the Marion Union Station a destination for #railfans to watch a diverse fleet of passing trains @VisitMarionOhio

There’s even more to explore in #MarionOH. To dig in further check out @VisitMarionOhio, @MarionMadeOhio @DowntownMarionO and get ready to explore another cool Ohio community with #GOPCThread in May!