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Marion Chamber reports membership growth, new welcome center and advocacy push for aquatic center
Summary
The Marion Chamber told council it added dozens of members, redesigned its welcome center and is launching an advocacy campaign in support of a proposed aquatic center; staff hires and events also featured in the update.
Representatives of the Marion Chamber of Commerce reported membership gains, a remodeled welcome center and new programming at the April 1 City Council work session, and they outlined an advocacy campaign in support of a proposed municipal aquatic center.
Jill (Chamber representative) told council the chamber added 32 new members in 2024, hired three staff members including a membership specialist and a Main Street director, and completed 55 professional development and networking events last year. "We added Tammy Peck who is a part time membership specialist," Jill said while reviewing staffing changes.
The chamber also described a refresh of its Uptown welcome center, new merchandise and expanded Saturday hours; staff reported a 225% increase in sales comparing January–March 2024 to January–March 2025. Jill said the chamber will publish a new community brochure in 2026 and redesign tourism outreach such as coupon sheets and a community champion program for frontline businesses.
On advocacy, the chamber said it will run a multi-tiered campaign in support of a proposed aquatic center, which chamber staff and board members described as an ImaginEx initiative aimed at expanding recreation and workforce attractiveness. "Our main goal here is just to increase non dues income," Jill said, noting sponsorship revenues help keep member dues affordable.
Council members asked about member retention and vacancy of storefronts in Uptown Marion; the chamber said retention challenges typically occur in the first two years of membership and that the organization conducts outreach and member mixers to raise retention rates. Jill said the chamber is coordinating with economic development partners to recruit businesses and reduce empty storefronts.
The chamber invited council to a ribbon-cutting and open house for its new welcome center on April 10. The presentation was informational; no council action was taken at the work session.
