City of Marion, IA Home Employment Council Meeting Contact Us Search Services About Us Recreation Government How Do I? Mayor and City Council + Boards & Commissions + Administration - City Manager Human Resources + Communications - News Releases Publications/Resources Connect with the City Awards and Designations Budget + City Clerk + Boards & Commissions + Documents & Reports Contact Us Community Development + Engineering + Finance + Library + Fire Department + Parks & Recreation Police Department + Public Services + Water + Government » Administration » Communications Awards and Designations Print Share & Bookmark Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option Font Size: + - Marion is proud to be the best place in Iowa to raise a family and grow a business. Here we reach higher and achieve more. In business and in life. Did you know? Marion was proud to receive the All-Star Community Award in 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021 from the Iowa League of Cities. Marion was among three of Iowa's 945 cities to garner such recognition. In 2017, the Klopfenstein Amphitheater for the Performing Arts at Lowe Park was recognized. In 2018, the community won the award for the Uptown Artway placemaking project. In 2020, the Prospect Meadows Sports Complex received top honors. In 2021, the award recognized the Marion YMCA & Community Rec Center. In July 2020, Marion landed in the top spot of LendEDU's list of Most Budget-Friendly Cities for Renters in the state of Iowa, and ranked ninth in the nation. To be considered, a city had to have a minimum of 12,000 housing units. Each city was ranked according to its rent-to-income ratio, or the proportion of a city's median household income that goes to annual rent costs (including utilities). Marion's rent-to-income ratio was right at 13.459 percent. In April 2020, the National Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Forestry Bureau awarded Marion the Tree City USA Growth Award. Marion has achieved Tree City USA status every year since 1993. Marion has consistently landed in the top 15 percent of Best Small Cities in America by WalletHub and 2020 was no exception. To identify the small cities where Americans can enjoy good quality of life and affordable living costs, WalletHub’s analysts compared 1,268 cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 across five key dimensions: affordability, economic health, education and health, quality of life and safety. In 2015, Marion reached #20 on the list. For the past 20 years, based on population and reported crimes, Marion continues to be one of the safest cities in Iowa. In July 2018, an effort let by the Marion Chamber of Commerce resulted in our community being re-designated as one of Iowa’s Great Places. The program celebrates communities with a bold vision for the future and supports the development of new and existing infrastructure. Marion will be able to apply for funding for projects tied to the community's vision plan, established as part of the ImagiNEXT visioning process. In June 2018, Marion was one of 20 cities to be honored at the 2018 City Livability Awards Program during the U.S. Conference of Mayors' 86th Annual Meeting in Boston. The award recognizes programs that improve the quality of life in America's cities. Mayor Nicolas AbouAssaly accepted the award for the Uptown Artway placemaking project. In November 2016, Marion was presented with a Healthy HometownSM powered by Wellmark Award by the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative. The award recognizes Marion for its dedication and accomplishments toward meaningful health improvement initiatives. In August 2016, Marion landed 28th on NerdWallet’s list of best small cities in the U.S. for families. NerdWallet analyzed 245 cities in the U.S. with populations between 25,000 and 100,000. Income and affordability, prosperity and growth, and family friendliness were taken into account. In January 2016, Marion placed 7th in Iowa in a recent study by financial technology company SmartAsset, which ranked the healthiest housing markets in the US. The study measured cities by the average number of years residents spend in homes, home values, ease of sale, and the costs associated with ownership. In late 2015, Marion landed on the list of Top 10 Most Livable Cities for Adults 50+ according to AARP's Livability Index. In September 2015, Marion became the first community in the Corridor to be Blue Zones certified. Over the course of 18 months, community volunteers developed and implemented a blueprint for making permanent environmental, social and policy changes that promote healthy living. Marion received the 2015 Large City Healthy Iowa Award from the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Healthiest State Initiative in June. The Healthy Iowa Awards Program recognizes the outstanding achievements of cities, schools, businesses, individuals, colleges and universities leading Iowa's charge in advancing well-being. In January 2013, through efforts championed by the Marion Chamber of Commerce, Marion was selected to be a Blue Zones Demonstration Site, providing assistance from experts to develop and implement a blueprint for transitioning people to healthier behaviors. In January 2013, Marion was selected the 49th Main Street Iowa Community in the state. The local organization is known as Uptown Marion and is a division of the Marion Chamber of Commerce. It focuses on historic preservation with high economic impact in the Uptown district. In 2010, Marion was recognized as a Preserve America Community for protecting and celebrating its heritage and using its historic assets for economic development and community revitalization. In 2009, efforts of the Marion Chamber of Commerce resulted in our community being designated one of Iowa’s Great Places. The program provided state resources over a three year period to invigorate and invest in the infrastructure and cultural amenities of select Iowa communities. Marion’s projects included the Lowe Park Greenhouse, Lindale Trail, Thomas Park Maintenance Facility, and the Klopfenstein Amphitheater for the Performing Arts. KEEP IN TOUCH NEED HELP? Pay Utility Bills Police Department Solid Waste Information Fire Department Programs & Events Contact Us COME VISIT 1225 6th Avenue Marion, IA 52302 (319) 743-6300 © 2021 City of Marion, IA. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Website Design by Granicus - Connecting People and Government