The Historic Marion Revitalization Association is a volunteer organization established to enhance Marion's business environment while preserving the beauty of the city. HMRA strives to stimulate economic development within the context of historical preservation. Beginning in 1992, local citizens, merchants, and city officials sought guidance from the South Carolina Downtown Development Association. This led to Marion's acceptance in 1993 to the Main Street Program sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and administered through the National Main Street Center.
The foundation of the Main Street program is the preservation and management of change in the built environment. HMRA is committed to sponsoring programs and activities which fulfill the following purposes: historic preservation, community education, lessening the burden of local government and combating community deterioration.
HMRA is working with the City of Marion and the Marion Camber of Commerce to complete a master plan for the downtown area. This plan is the result of the Charrette that was completed in the Fall of 2005. Once the plan is completed, this will allow Marion to apply for grants to redo the streetscape for a six-long block section of downtown. With the master plan in place, construction should start in the Spring of 2008.
HMRA also awards matching grants up to $2,000 for work done on commercial facades located within the Historic Business District. We have awarded grants totaling $7,400 this year.
If you are interested in applying for a grant please contact our office for more information.
Our main goal is to obtain grant monies for the Historic District of downtown Marion. This money will be used to improve the streetscape and traffic flow on Main Street. Adding kick outs with bigger and shadier trees at the corners, painted brickwork simulation for all crossings on downtown Main Street, and pleasing to the eye landscaping between Bobby Gerald Parkway and Godbold Streets is the next step needed to beautify our city. To encourage newcomers (tourists, families and retiree’s) to visit or relocate to Marion evolves presenting a downtown that is viable and pleasing to the eye.
Again, partnering with the City and Chamber, we are employing an architect to create the initial plans needed before we can even apply for the grants. This phase will take about 6 months to complete, but will be well worth the money invested. Your donation helps make these improvements possible.
One of our more ambitious goals is to seek new businesses to relocate to Main Street in downtown Marion. Empty storefronts do not encourage tourists to stop and spend their money, but also keeps Marionites from patronizing their own local businesses. Advertising in the Florence and Myrtle Beach newspapers, and visiting these potential new businesses is another way your HMRA dollars work for all of you.
