What does it take to become the Strongest Town in America? Evelyn Warr-Omness—director of the Marion City/County Regional Planning Commission—will share how Marion, OH beat the odds to win the 2025 Strongest Town Contest. Marion has faced the same economic challenges and decline that so many communities have seen in recent decades—but by focusing on small, strategic actions and learning from each success, they’ve charted a path toward long-term resilience. Evelyn will walk us through the mindset and practical steps that helped Marion “do a lot with a little,” offering valuable insights for anyone working to strengthen their place, whether you're a dedicated resident, elected official, or city staff member.
Bonus: This is a great opportunity to get tips and inspiration for your own community’s application to the 2026 Strongest Town Contest! Strong Towns members can join Evelyn in the exclusive “Member Debrief” after the session to ask their own questions about Marion’s path toward strength.
This workshop is worth 1 AICP continuing education credit.
This session is FREE for Strong Towns Members!
- If you haven't already, become a Strong Towns member by making a donation of any amount.
- Your free coupon code will be emailed to you upon sign up for membership. If you're already a member and didn't receive your code, please contact [email protected]
- Once you have your code, click the Enroll Now button below this box and enter your free coupon code at checkout.
This session is part of our 2025 Fall Local-Motive Tour, which includes 8 action-oriented, short-form workshops featuring inspiring leaders in the Strong Towns movement.
Check out the Round-Trip Ticket to unlock all eight 2025 Spring Local-Motive sessions at an exclusive rate!
