MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—An organization that provides education and employment programs for Marion County residents is now branching into Crawford County – because it matters.
Marion Matters, Inc. helps people who are struggling financially by giving them the tools and resources they need to further their education, find jobs, and ultimately improve their financial position, according to Natalie Longmeier, the agency’s executive director.
It’s a pathway out of poverty.
“Post-pandemic especially, people have really felt the pull of limited resources, so our programs are here to support individuals to create a positive future story for them,” Longmeier said. “Marion Matters is excited about growing and expanding into Crawford County.”
The organization’s Employer Resource Network, or ERN, officially launched in Crawford County April 1 as the North Central Ohio ERN, Longmeier said. Mill Creek Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Galion is serving as the pilot business for the program, she said.
The ERN is a shared resource designed to boost employee retention and productivity, Longmeier said. Success Coaches from Marion Matters work onsite with employees to eliminate many of the barriers they face, including financial debt, transportation, and childcare issues, she said.
Another one of the agency’s key programs, “Getting Ahead,” is a 14-week course focused on giving participants “tools for stability in a ‘Just Getting’-By World,’” Longmeier said. The class meets twice a week and is usually held at the agency’s 810 Kenton Avenue office.
Facilitators help participants go from surviving to thriving, Longmeier said. “Getting Ahead puts concepts, tools, and relationships into the hands of people living in instability to make a difference in their own lives and in the life of their community.”
“Money & Me” is taught during the last two weeks of the program. The financial class covers topics ranging from smart shopping and meal planning to budgeting and taking control of finances, and highlights ways for low-income residents to succeed in managing their income.
Marion Matters, established in 2011, is the brainchild of longtime Municipal Court Judge Teresa Ballinger who was introduced to the “Bridges out of Poverty” curriculum in 2009 and pitched the idea locally. The first community-wide training session was held a year later, and the program grew.
Since then, the non-profit has served hundreds of residents, Longmeier said. As of 2022, 29.7-percent have improved their financial position and 22-percent have lowered their debt, she said. In addition, more than 18-percent have found jobs and 15-percent have furthered their education.
Down the road, she said, the organization’s goal is to also implement the Getting Ahead program in Crawford County. “We hope that we’ll be able to bring it to Crawford County at a location there in the future. We look forward to partnering to support employees and residents there.”
Marion Matters is funded by the United Way of North Central Ohio, OhioHealth, Pillar Credit Union, the Marion Community Foundation, and Marion County Job & Family Services.
Additional information is available by calling 740-223-2999 or logging onto marionmatters.org.