Since 1988, this organization has sponsored Christmas lights around the square, supported the courthouse lighting project, organized a buyers group for the Madison County Fair, sponsored a trophy during the Madisonville Sidewalk Cattleman’s Association Bar-B-Q cook off, sponsored an annual Trick or Treat Party as a safe alternative to neighborhood trick or treating and awarded annual scholarships to graduating seniors. Funds for these and all other community service projects are generated by sale of vendor booth spaces at the Arts and Crafts event during the Madisonville Texas Mushroom Festival in October each year. Overall Mission It is the purpose of the INITIATIVE to; improve and to revitalize the Madisonville area through beautifications; heritage education and preservation; enhancement of cultural awareness, appreciation, and participation; and support for projects that affect the current well-being or future success of area residents, resulting in an improved quality of life and a community which is an attractive destination for tourists, a place where newcomers desire to relocate, a venue for employment and entertainment for area residents, and an area worthy of the pride of its citizens. Today we have grown to over 200 vendor booths at the Madisonville Texas Mushroom Festival, this is just one of the ways to raise money for this endeavor. The name was changed to encompass the entire Madisonville Area. Now is the time to have your business involved by attending our monthly meeting 12:00 pm, on the last Tuesday of the month, meeting place will be announced monthly. Everyone is welcome to attend, bring new ideas and get involved with the future growth of our community. MARI President, Sharon Phelps