Featured Top Story Looking ahead to 2026: New things to come in Marion’s business community in new year From the Read all of our coverage Marion's Clinchfield Mill, which is being converted into senior housing series Mike Conley Dec 29, 2025 Dec 29, 2025 Updated Sep 17, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save As 2026 approaches, Marion’s business community is looking forward to a new year with new opportunities.kAmx? 2?E:4:A2E:@? @7 E96 ?6H J62C[ %96 |4s@H6== }6HD C624965 @FE E@ =@42= =6256CD 2?5 2D<65 E96> H92E H6 4@F=5 6IA64E :? a_ae]k^AmkAmtI64FE:G6 s:C64E@C uC655:6 z:==@F89 D2:5 E96 |2C:@? qFD:?6DD pDD@4:2E:@? :D 6I4:E65 2?5 =@@<:?8 7@CH2C5 E@ a_ae]k^AmkAm“p7E6C E96 9FCC:42?6 C64@G6CJ 492==6?86D @7 a_ad[ H6 2C6 @AE:>:DE:4 @7 8C@HE9 2?5 AC@DA6C:EJ :? E96 FA4@>:?8 J62C[” D96 D2:5]k^Am Executive Director Freddie Killough said the Marion Business Association is excited and looking forward to 2026. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kAm%96 |qp 2=C625J 92D 2 7F== =:DE @7 6G6?ED :? 5@H?E@H? 7@C a_ae[ A=FD E96C6 H:== 36 6G6?ED DA@?D@C65 3J E96 A2CE?6C @C82?:K2E:@?D] |@C6 6G6?ED >2J 36 25565 E@ E96 42=6?52C 2D E96 J62C AC@8C6DD6D]k^Am People are also reading… Nebo woman charged with stealing $700 in cash from her employer Candidates for McDowell County Board of Commissioners answer questions Will Isaias match Helene? National Weather Service forecasters address concerns Candidates for McDowell clerk of Superior Court answer questions McDowell County Manager Ashley Wooten submits resignation Marion man faces charges of breaking and entering, marijuana possession Marion honors retiring emergency services director, longtime business owners Marion community members gather to honor workers killed in 1929 strike Historic Greensboro mansion on market for $5.1 million. Its pool table was placed by crane Fact check: Ad targets NC Democratic candidate Jamie Ager's donations and political ties NC man charged with 60-plus counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, police say McDowell County Schools alumni spotlight: Early College grad's career brings her back home Marion family turns a son’s cancer journey into a creamery with a cause NC has changed math standards. Here’s what high school students will now take Biggest takeaways from the Carolina Panthers' prime-time Week 4 win over Lions kAm%9:D :D 2 E6?E2E:G6 DA64:2= 6G6?E =:DE 7@C a_aeik^AmkF=mk=:m|2J a[ $2EFC52J[ $:56H2=< *2C5 $2=6k^=:mk=:myF?6 e[ $2EFC52J[ {:G6C |FD9 u6DE:G2=k^=:mk=:myF=J c[ $2EFC52J[ x?56A6?56?46 s2J 46=63C2E:@?k^=:mk=:mpF8] `[ $2EFC52J[ $:56H2=< *2C5 $2=6k^=:mk=:mpF8] c[ %F6D52J[ }2E:@?2= }:89E ~FEk^=:mk=:mpF8] ah[ $2EFC52J[ (}r q:87@@E u6DE:G2=k^=:mk^F=m The Culturas Unidas Festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, in downtown Marion. PHOTO BY BETH HALL kF=mk=:m$6AE] `a[ $2EFC52J[ rF=EFC2D &?:52D u6DE:G2=k^=:mk=:m~4E] `_[ $2EFC52J[ cbC5 2??F2= |@F?E2:? v=@CJ u6DE:G2=k^=:mk=:m~4E] ab[ uC:52J[ |2C:@? w2==@H66? !2CEJk^=:mk=:ma_ae '6CJ |6CCJ r9C:DE>2D 368:?D H:E9 }@G] aa[ $F?52J[ r9C:DE>2D !2C256k^=:mk=:m}@G] ag[ $2EFC52J[ $9@A $>2== |2:? $EC66E rC27E rC2H=k^=:mk^F=m The 2026 WNC Bigfoot Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 29, in downtown Marion. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kF=mk=:ms64] c[ %9FCD52J[ '6CJ |2C:@? r9C:DE>2D[ d\eib_ A]>]k^=:mk=:ms64] `f[ %9FCD52J[ &8=J $H62E6C r@?E6DE U2>Aj r9C:DE>2D u6DE sC2H:?8k^=:mk=:ms64] b`[ %9FCD52J[ }6H *62C’D tG6 r6=63C2E:@?k^=:mk^F=m kAmz:==@F89 D2:5 |2C:@? 4@?E:?F6D E@ D66 8C@HE9 H:E9 ?6H 3FD:?6DD 56G6=@A>6?E]k^Am The new TownePlace Suites by Marriott will break ground on North Main Street in the coming year. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kAm“tG6CJ@?6 :D =@@<:?8 7@C E96 ?6H C6DE2FC2?E[ %96 |25?6DD[ 4@>:?8 E@ |2C:@? :? E96 7@C>6C qFCC:E@ qC@D] =@42E:@?[” D96 D2:5]k^AmkAmqFCC:E@ qC@D] 4=@D65 :? s646>36C] %96 |25?6DD :D 6IA64E65 E@ @A6? :? |2C49]k^AmkAm%96 8C@F?53C62<:?8 7@C E96 ?6H %@H?6!=246 $F:E6D 3J |2CC:@EE @? }@CE9 |2:? $EC66E :D 6I4:E:?8[ E@@[ z:==@F89 D2:5]k^AmkAm%96 9@E6= :D 2 ;@:?E AC@;64E 3J E96 4:EJ @7 |2C:@? 2?5 |4s@H6== r@F?EJ[ 2?5 E96 8C@F?53C62<:?8 :D D4965F=65 7@C E96 7:CDE BF2CE6C @7 a_ae[ H:E9 2 4@>A=6E:@? 52E6 D6E 7@C D@>6E:>6 :? a_af]k^Am The Madness plans to open in the former Burrito Bros location in Marion. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kAm%96 v:G6?D tDE2E6 AC@;64E 2E E96 @=5 r=:?497:6=5 |:== :D 6IA64E65 E@ 92G6 2 3:8 :>A24E :? E96 r=:?497:6=5 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 36J@?5 3J 255:?8 `c` 277@C523=6 2A2CE>6?ED 7@C @=56C 25F=ED] %96 >:== H2D 3F:=E :? `h`f] %96 9@FD:?8 AC@;64E 2:>D E@ 3C:?8 ?6H =:76 :?E@ E96 3F:=5:?8]k^AmkAm%96 t2DE r@FCE $EC66E 4@CC:5@C 4@?E:?F6D E@ D66 56G6=@A>6?E 2?5 362FE:7:42E:@?] %96 @H?6CD @7 E96 r@AA6C !6??J vC:== A=2? E@ 3F:=5 2 ?6H C6DE2FC2?E 2E f__ t] r@FCE $E][ 2?5 !@H6C>2II @7 |2C:@? A=2?D E@ C6=@42E6 E96:C 562=6CD9:A E@ E92E DA@E[ E@@] q@E9 D9@F=5 36 @A6C2E:?8 367@C6 E96 6?5 @7 a_ae]k^Am kAm“z66A H2E49:?8 7@C 8@@5 E9:?8D E96C6[” z:==@F89 D2:5]k^AmkAm}6H DE@C286 F?:ED E92E 2C6 4=:>2E6\4@?EC@==65 2C6 ?@H F?56C 4@?DECF4E:@? 2=@?8 }@CE9 v2C56? $EC66E]k^Am The Givens Estate project will turn the old Clinchfield Mill into 141 affordable apartments for older adults. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kAmp=D@[ $>@<6 p ‘{:= $>@<6 C6DE2FC2?E H:== E2<6 @G6C E96 7@C>6C w2CG6DE sC:G6\x? H:E9 A=2?D E@ 92G6 :E @A6C2E:?8 3J y2?F2CJ]k^Am Smoke A ‘Lil Smoke restaurant will take over the former Harvest Drive-In with plans to have it operating by January. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS k9amp5@AE\p\!=2?Ek^9amkAm%96 |2C:@? qFD:?6DD pDD@4:2E:@? 92D =2F?4965 |2C:@? x? q=@@> p5@AE\2\!=2?E AC@8C2> 7@C a_ae] %9:D :?:E:2E:G6 :?G:E6D =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D[ @C82?:K2E:@?D 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ >6>36CD E@ DA@?D@C A=2?E6CD E92E 3C:89E6? 5@H?E@H? 7C@> |2J E9C@F89 ~4E@36C] t249 DA@?D@CD9:A :?4=F56D 2 A=2?E6C[ D62D@?2= 7=@H6CD 7C@> 2 =@42= ?FCD6CJ[ @?8@:?8 >2:?E6?2?46[ 2?5 C64@8?:E:@? H:E9 D:8?286 @? J@FC DA@?D@C65 A=2?E6C] $A@?D@CD9:AD 2=D@ >2<6 >62?:?87F= 8:7ED @C EC:3FE6D :? >6>@CJ @7 2 =@G65 @?6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ z:==@F89]k^Am k9ams:D4@G6C |2C:@? r@>>F?:EJ r92==6?86k^9amkAm%96 |qp :D =2F?49:?8 2?@E96C ?6H :?:E:2E:G6 :? y2?F2CJ]k^AmkAmz:==@F89 D2:5 :E :D 42==65 E96 s:D4@G6C |2C:@? r@>>F?:EJ r92==6?86[ 2?5 :E :D 56D:8?65 E@ 6?4@FC286 C6D:56?ED 2?5 G:D:E@CD E@ 6IA=@C6 |2C:@?[ 4@??64E H:E9 E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 DFAA@CE =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 @C82?:K2E:@?D :? D:>A=6[ =@H\AC6DDFC6 H2JD]k^Am kAm“(6 H:== D92C6 >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? :? E96 ?6H J62C[” D96 D2:5]k^Am New storage units that are climate controlled are now under construction along North Garden Street. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS In this Series Read all of our coverage Marion's Clinchfield Mill, which is being converted into senior housing Updated Sep 17, 2026 US housing secretary, congressman visit Marion to talk about Clinchfield apartment project Updated Sep 17, 2026 CEO of Givens talks at Clinchfield mill in Marion Updated Sep 17, 2026 Looking ahead to 2026: New things to come in Marion’s business community in new year 9 updates Previous Next 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular Maymead lawsuit: Consultant used alias to rally opposition to NC asphalt plant The goal, according to Maymead, was "an attempt to manipulate the competition for, and pricing of, asphalt in the Forsyth County region." 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Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Maymead lawsuit: Consultant used alias to rally opposition to NC asphalt plant The goal, according to Maymead, was "an attempt to manipulate the competition for, and pricing of, asphalt in the Forsyth County region."
Western NC builders invited to hands-on earth-covered construction workshop Participants will work with the building system, learning how the FRP components are assembled, aligned and sealed to create the structural sh…
