In the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, our city found itself in an unprecedented economic crisis threatening the livelihood and future of so many locally owned businesses. In a time where so many were struggling, along came an amazing opportunity for the citizens, churches, businesses, and organizations to UNITE and help them through this. MARION UNITED was and still is a collaborative effort to generate grants for local businesses affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Josh Benitone and Jared Gravatt, owners of Crown Brew Coffee, helped organize Marion United. It was intended to be a fundraising event at first to provide some meaningful and very need relief in very short order to some of the smallest businesses in our town who were suffering beyond all comprehension right after the initial stay-at-home order. Josh and Jared are the guys who envisioned Marion United.

“We are so grateful and so proud of them,” Mayor Mike Absher said of Jared and Josh. “I thank God and every day that I wake up and that they are a part of Marion.”

On April 3, Marion United hosted a live stream benefit concert that raised almost $200,000 for local, Marion businesses suffering because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Just two weeks after the event, 111 businesses received grants to help provide relief.

Marion United was created to unify our city by celebrating our diverse community, local businesses, and artists. There is so much that makes our unique hometown amazing. When we unite under a shared cause, we have the ability to empower, bring hope, and impact our community.

Despite great pain and tragedy during the pandemic, Marion United created an opportunity to unite and endure the struggle together. Jared, Josh and Marion United not only brought so many together to help our city shine as a beacon of hope in the midst of economic disaster, but also gave us a solution to lift our community during a time of uncertainty. 

“The community is more than bricks, streets, water and sewer lines: it is the people that make the community,” Mayor Absher said. “As we seek to revitalize Marion not only during this pandemic but long after the effects have passed, you have to dig in to make the community better than just the sum of its individual parts. Josh and Jared are the epitome of the energy, passion and commitment needed to not only revitalize Marion, but to unite it.”