Marion and the impact of COVID-19

Below is part of an email I received from one of Marion’s oldest businesses. “I wanted to share a couple of things I’ve seen through this pandemic.

One thing I’ve seen/heard from customers is they have not wanted to leave Marion to shop. I hope this trend continues as other businesses open. This has created a lot of new customers for me and I hope I have shown these new customers that we are different and know how to treat people.

These customers have been impressed as to how I’ve increased supplies in my store and have been surprised at my selections. I think if all of our businesses show the same attitude and gratitude, they will stay in Marion. I know these have been hard times but Marion is strong and will be great in the end!!”

As commerce begins to reopen all over the region, I hope that we all remember what our local businesses have done during the pandemic. Every store, restaurant, office and business made changes to accommodate their customers. Many offered delivery, curbside service, phone orders, online orders and other concessions to serve us and keep their employees safe.

Now that the option to go to Southaven or Memphis or Jonesboro is available again, remember our local folks. They need us now more than ever. So, let's all make the effort to patronize our local places first.

Thank you to the City of Marion as they have maintained all the city services that we rely on each day.

These include garbage, water, fire and police protection, and numerous other services that we only notice when they are interrupted. All of these services are funded through sales tax, and sales tax is only collected when something is purchased in this city. I agree that Marion’s sales tax is very high – above is a breakdown: For every dollar you spend in Marion, .02 goes to the city. If you buy prepared food or overnight lodging, an additional penny goes to the A& P Commission to promote Marion. The tax on food items and food ingredients is only 4.87%.

The sales tax in other cities is lower; however, those businesses are not owned by our friends and neighbors. A gift shop in Southaven will not purchase an ad in the MHS Yearbook, an auto parts store in Memphis is not interested in sponsoring an MYSA baseball team, and the Neighborhood Walmart in Jonesboro will not donate to anyone in Marion. Those businesses support the communities where they are located.

The past few months has been trying for everyone. I hope that we all have a deeper compassion and loyalty to Marion when the Coronavirus is a distant memory.