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This page offers blog posts, news articles and events surrounding Athens County economic and community development efforts. Select the News & Events tabs to the right to view all postings.
County Might Contribute Financially toward The Plains Zoning Effort
The original story can be found here in the Athens Messenger By Steve Robb Messenger staff journalist Note: This story appears in the Wednesday, Jan. 16 newspaper on Page A1. With an Athens County planning group recommending the county commissioners initiate the zoning process in The Plains, and with a majority of county commissioners against […]
Read MoreCounty to Acquire Former Dollar General Store
The original story can be found here in the Athens Messenger By Steve Robb Messenger Staff Journalist An agreement to acquire the former Dollar General building in Glouster was approved Tuesday by the Athens County Commissioners. The county will pay $1 for the vacant building, but what it does with the structure remains to be […]
Read MoreColumbia Gas Having New Building Constructed Near The Plains
The original story can be found here in the Athens Messenger From staff reports Note: This story appears in the Sunday, Jan. 13 newspaper on Page A3. THE PLAINS — Columbia Gas of Ohio will be having a new building constructed near The Plains. “Construction of a new facility will allow Columbia Gas to provide […]
Read MoreCity Planner Outlines Improvements to Richland Avenue
The original story can be found here in the Athens Messenger Note: This story appears in the Friday, Jan. 11 newspaper on Page A1. A “comprehensive plan” for the city of Athens is taking shape, with a new video series highlighting aspects of the plan and certain areas around town. The latest video from City […]
Read MoreNew Development Site Coming to the Plains?
The original story can be found here in the Athens Messenger By Steve Robb Note: This story appears in the Friday, Jan. 11 newspaper on Page A1. THE PLAINS — A large tract of land near The Plains is being promoted on the internet as the potential site of a mixed-use residential and retail development. […]
Read MoreTax Abatement for StewMac Expansion to Create 19 New Jobs
By Steve Robb The original story can be found here in the Athens Messenger The Stewart-MacDonald building at 21 N. Shafer St. in Athens will undergo renovations that will allow more of the building to be put into use, which is expected to result in 19 additional jobs at that location.Messenger photo by John Halley […]
Read MoreAthens Twp. Will Have to go it Alone with Plains Zoning
By Kayla Beard The original story can be found here in the Athens News The Athens Township Trustees voted in August, 2018 to establish a zoning commission, the first step in the process of creating zoning regulations in the unincorporated community of The Plains. Fred Kight The future of zoning regulations in The Plains remains […]
Read MoreFor Jobs Training and School Help, WIOA’s on the Way
The original story can be found here in the Athens Messenger Travis Brands and Brittany Buck, owner and server at Gigi’s Country Kitchen, have both received funding from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program to help pay for college. Seated are Kim Hobbs and Joe McGowan from the OhioMeansJobs of Athens County office, […]
Read MoreAthens Armory: Plenty of uses; not much $$
The original story can be found here in the Athens News Outside of the Athens Armory on North Court Street in Athens. Photos by Conor Morris The old Athens Armory that anchors the north end of Court Street in uptown Athens is awaiting a new tenant or tenants, though the high price tag for renovating the […]
Read MoreAthens Medical Marijuana Dispensary Nears Completion
The original story can be found here in the Athens Messenger By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist Harvest of Athens, a medical marijuana dispensary, will be located on West Union Street.Messenger photo by Steve Robb Note: This story appears in the Wednesday, Jan. 2 newspaper on Page A1. A medical marijuana dispensary in Athens will […]
Read MoreUpGrade Ohio Acquired by Rural Action
The original story can be found here in the Athens Messenger UpGrade Ohio Executive Director Sarah Conley-Ballew, right, is seen in this file photo from April 2018, when she spoke about the opt-out carbon fee proposed for Athens during a meeting to discuss sustainability, energy and environmental plans for the city. Note: This story appears […]
Read More…And the Winners Are: Celebrating TechOhio’s Inaugural Startup Culture Awards
The original story can be found here by TechOhio TechOhio is pleased to announce the winners of our inaugural Startup Culture Awards! In a statewide competition driven by voters, the community selected Wiretap in Columbus as the early-stage winner, and Global Cooling Inc., parent company of Stirling UltraCold in Athens as the late-stage winner. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look […]
Read MorePlans Moving Forward for Youth Residential Treatment Center at Former Doctors Hospital
The original story can be found here in the Athens Messenger An all-new roof and a new HVAC system was completed this spring at the Mary Hill Center, formerly known as Doctors Hospital of Nelsonville, with the facility scheduled for a Sept. 1, 2019 opening under operation by Integrated Services and Hopewell Health Centers. Note: […]
Read MoreOhio University Licenses Technology to Ohio Startup Company to Develop Non-Invasive Osteoporosis Diagnostic Device
The original story can be found here on Ohio University’s Communication News Ohio University has licensed a technology that can accurately estimate bone strength to Ohio startup company AEIOU Scientific LLC. The company is now a client of the Innovation Center, the university’s business incubator. AEIOU Scientific began offering the Cortical Bone Mechanics Technology™ for […]
Read MoreTrio of State Working to Develop NGL Storage Facility
The original story can be found here by Kallanish Energy Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio are working together to develop natural gas liquids storage that is needed if ethane crackers are to be developed in the Appalachian Basin, according to Denise Brinley, senior energy advisor for the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development. Shell […]
Read MoreCity OKs Land-use Agreement for Riverside Property
The original story can be found here in the Athens News The city of Athens will soon claim responsibility for a large parcel of land owned by Ohio University that skirts the Hocking River on the East Side of the city. Athens City Council members approved the agreement during a special session on Monday after […]
Read MoreUSDA Launches New Program to Create High-Speed Internet e-Connectivity in Rural America
Click here for the original Press Release on usda.gov WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2018 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering up to $600 million in loans and grants to help build broadband infrastructure in rural America. Telecommunications companies, rural electric cooperatives and utilities, internet service […]
Read MoreWaste Water Improvement for Rural Communities
The original story can be found here in the Athens Messenger By GRACE WARNER For The Messenger LOGAN — The United States Department of Agriculture announced earlier this month it would make a $1.2 billion investment to help improve rural water infrastructure for Americans in 46 states. Here in Southeast Ohio, the communities of Nelsonville, […]
Read MoreCommissioners Pursue Grant to Help Renovate Nelsonville’s Mechem Building
The original story can be found here in the Athens Messenger By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist Hocking College plans to renovate the Mechem Building in Nelsonville for use by the Hocking College Innovation Gateway program, and the Athens County Commissioners want to get a grant to help. Messenger file photo Note: This story appears […]
Read MoreCommissioners to Hold Injection Well Meeting
The original story can be found here in the Athens Messenger By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist This file photo from 2014 shows a public meeting held by the Athens County Commissioners that allowed residents to comment on a pending injection well permit. A similar meeting is planned for Dec. 18 for another injection well […]
Read MoreNelsonville to get Federal Water Infrastructure $$
The original story can be found here in the Athens News The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $1.2 billion to help rebuild and improve rural water infrastructure for 936,000 rural Americans living in 46 states, including Ohio, Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett announced in a news release on Wednesday. Some […]
Read MoreAthens Signs Agreement with DriveOhio
The original story can be found here in the Athens Messenger By Heather Willard Messenger Staff Journalist The city of Athens may become a test site for a self-driving vehicle program.File photo by John Halley Athens officials have noted interest in DriveOhio since it was first announced in January, and recently signed an agreement to […]
Read MoreMenards Official: Athens Store Likely to Open in 2020
Local Lowe’s store, meanwhile, not on list of closings By Kayla Beard The original story can be found here in the Athens News Stock photo of a Menards store Menards’ long-awaited arrival in Athens is inching closer, as the company recently applied for state building permits and released a tentative date for construction to begin. […]
Read MoreLocal Program Offers Free Learning, Job Training – Here’s How to Get Involved
The original story can be found here in the Athens Messenger Note: This story appears in the Sunday, Dec. 2 newspaper on Page A1. The best-kept secret in Athens County offers adults here a free chance to learn, get a GED, gain job skills and even attend college. Organizers want to spread the word about […]
Read MoreLand Bank Gets State Funds to Address Blighted Properties
Click here for the original story found in the Athens News All things appear to be going according to plan for the Athens County Land Reutilization Corporation, known as the Land Bank. At its monthly meeting Monday, the Land Bank Board updated the public on the agency’s progress, including two projects that were recently approved […]
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