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This page offers blog posts, news articles and events surrounding Athens County economic and community development efforts.
Grant Program Available to Athens County Businesses
Athens County Businesses – Main Streem America is now offering its “At Your Side: small business grant program, which supports brick-and-mortar small businesses in designated historic districts. Eligible expenses include those incurred to prepare for/address COVID-19 re-opening guidelines/requirements, as well as other expenses such as payroll, rent, operational expenses, business plan modifications, etc. Applications will […]
Read MoreCity Council: Funding received for Athens businesses, repair project for The Ridges discussed
January 12, 2021 By Kyra Leckrone The Athens County Economic Development Council reported that it secured over $4 million in funding throughout 2020 meant to increase economic opportunity in Athens during the Monday City Council meeting. Read the full article at the Post: https://www.thepostathens.com/article/2021/01/city-council-business-funding-ridges-restoration Favorite
Read MoreU.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.2 Million to Boost Economic Diversification Efforts in Ohio’s 18-County Appalachian Region
Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085 Date: January 7, 2021 Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.2 million grant to Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, to provide technical assistance to accelerate the economic transition to new industries in 18 counties in Appalachian Ohio. […]
Read MoreCOVID-19 Vaccine Storage and Distribution Boosts Business for Athens Based Manufacturer
December 29, 2020 By Carrie Ghose An Appalachian Ohio company that makes portable ultra-low-temperature freezers with lower energy demands than other models is a crucial link in the Covid-19 vaccine distribution chain. Read the complete article at Columbus Business First: Covid-19 vaccine distribution helps triple sales for Athens’ Stirling Ultracold – Columbus Business First (bizjournals.com) […]
Read MoreAthens County Small Business Relief Fund awards over $250,000 in business grants
In October, the Athens County Board of Commissioners appropriated a portion of its CARES Act funding to a Small Business Relief Fund (SBRF) for the purpose of alleviating businesses of economic burdens resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic business closures. As of Dec. 18, a total of $256,092.93 has been awarded to 30 Athens County businesses […]
Read MoreCongress passes $900 billion ‘historic bipartisan rescue package’ that now heads to the President for approval
December 22, 2020 By Ledyard King and Nicholas Wu WASHINGTON – After weeks of painstaking negotiation and months of partisan finger-pointing, the Senate resoundingly passed a sweeping COVID-19 relief package Monday, sending a bill to President Donald Trump to sign that will send millions of Americans direct payments and rescue thousands of small businesses nationwide struggling to stay open in […]
Read More‘Cautiously optimistic’: Federal funding to expand rural broadband in Ohio
December 14, 2020 By Céilí Doyle, The Columbus Dispatch A glimmer of hope lies beyond Appalachia’s mountainous horizon for over 400,000 people living without steady, or really any, reliable access to high-speed internet in rural Ohio. On Monday, the Federal Communication Commission announced that the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), a $20.4 billion investment from the federal agency to expand broadband […]
Read MoreUltra-Low-Temp Provider Setting Up Organizations to Handle COVID-19 Vaccines
Stirling Ultracold is equipping pharmaceutical companies, a delivery service, a testing facility and a U.S. state health department with NatRef fridges to store COVID-19 vaccines. As U.S. biotech firm Moderna announced this week that its COVID-19 vaccine had more than 94.5% effectiveness in clinical trials, another U.S. firm, Stirling Ultracold, is touting a novel cooling […]
Read MoreThe Plains-based company develops ultra-cold freezer that can store potential COVID-19 vaccines
November 10, 2020 By Ben Peters, Athens News A company based in The Plains has garnered national attention for its ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers, which have become useful in storing a potential COVID-19 vaccine that is likely to require subzero temperatures to remain potent. Stirling Ultracold, a company located at 6000 Poston Rd. that employees […]
Read More‘Every day, we’re falling behind in Appalachian Ohio’: Lack of broadband hurts rural areas
Thursday, October 29th AMESVILLE — Heather Mitchell is overwhelmed. The single mom of three boys struggles just to send a text message. She and her sons –– Micah, 6, River, 4, and Wren, 2 –– have been living without consistent internet access in Athens County for nearly eight years. The family moved to Amesville, a […]
Read MoreJackie O’s Craft Brewery Plans Expansion With Stand-Alone Bakeshop
Posted on October 26, 2020 by OhioSE Zod, LLC, doing business as Jackie O’s in Athens announced today the expansion of its baked goods product line with the creation of Jackie O’s Bakeshop. Company officials said the new bakeshop will be located on East Stimson Avenue near the Jackie O’s Brewery. “We are excited to […]
Read MoreACEDC hiring new Project Specialist
Join Our Team! The Athens County Economic Development Council is seeking a Project Specialist to assist the Director with programmatic and marketing efforts. This is a fulltime position, the salary for which is commensurate with experience and education. Visit the below link for the full project description and application instructions. ACEDC Project Specialist Job Description […]
Read MoreCounty planner tapped as first Outdoor Recreation Council director
September 8, 2020 CHAUNCEY — The Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia, a council of governments formed to oversee funding and management of the Baileys Trail System, has finally received its first executive director — current Athens County Planner Jessie Powers. She will begin her time at ORCA Tuesday, Sept. 8. Powers has been with the […]
Read MoreDr. Glenda Bumgarner Named as New President & CEO of Appalachian Partnership, Inc.
August 13, 2020 Nelsonville, Ohio – The Appalachian Partnership, Inc. (API) today announced Dr. Glenda Bumgarner as its new President and CEO. Bumgarner currently serves as JobsOhio’s Senior Director of Engagement and joins the API team effective Aug. 31. She replaces John Molinaro, who is retiring and has served as API’s president and CEO since 2012. […]
Read MoreBuckeye Hills Regional Council launches interactive Wi-Fi hotspot map
April 21, 2020 Buckeye Hills Regional Council has launched a new tool to find and share verified Wi-Fi hotspot locations in southeast Ohio. Amid the stay-at-home orders and school closures stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, this tool can help with everyday tasks including completion of research and classroom assignments, searching and applying for benefits and […]
Read MoreCounty to distribute $1.5 million in federal aid
June 26, 2020 Thanks to the federal CARES Act, Athens County alongside municipalities in the county will receive a total of $1.5 million, County Auditor Jill Thompson reported Thursday. This funding is a portion of the $350 million distributed as relief funding for Ohio. The funds can only be used for unexpected expenditures incurred by […]
Read MoreOU researchers return to their labs, seeking potential COVID-19 treatments
May 30th, 2020 Several Ohio University researchers have received permission for an early return to their labs to conduct research on potential treatments for COVID-19. While most on-campus research activity was paused under the state’s stay-at-home order, the university has allowed a limited amount of essential work to continue — with close attention to safety. […]
Read MoreHocking Hills sites to reopen June 15
May 26, 2020 By Staff LOGAN — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is making a number of modifications to the popular Hocking Hills State Park trails system to better accommodate social distancing. Trails scheduled to open on June 15 include Cantwell Cliffs and Rock House at the state park. The park’s most beloved […]
Read More$1.7 million federal grant to assist older Ohioans through COVID-19
May 27, 2020 By Staff The Ohio Department of Aging announced on Tuesday that it has received a $1.7 million federal grant to strengthen services that support the health, safety, and independence of older Ohioans challenged by the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. The grant, issued under the federal government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic […]
Read MoreOhio University plans to return to campus this fall
May 14 2020 Kristine Varkony ATHENS, Ohio– Ohio University says they will open their campuses this fall semester. “With the health and safety of our University community at the top of our minds, we are planning for our new normal,” President M. Duane Nellis said in a statement. “It is our hope and intention that […]
Read MoreARC Announces $3.75 Million for Emergency Business Response Assistance Program to be Administered by Appalachian Community Capital
May 2020 WASHINGTON, D.C., May 11, 2020—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced a $3.75 million grant to Appalachian Community Capital (ACC) for the ARC-ACC Emergency Business Response Assistance Program to strengthen and stabilize the Region’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and other mission-driven development finance lenders serving small businesses impacted by COVID-19 related losses. Through this […]
Read MoreQuidel’s Rapid Covid-19 Antigen Test Scores Emergency FDA Approval
May 10, 2020 Ben Maheny, Yahoo News Quidel (QDEL) has now received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the US FDA for its Sofia 2 SARS Antigen FIA, a rapid point-of-care test for suspected COVID-19 infection. According to the FDA, this is a new category of tests that will now be available for use in the […]
Read MoreIndustrial park receives $2.9M investment from JobsOhio
May 7, 2020 By Heather Willard The Bill Theisen Industrial Park will be reaching a new phase of development thanks to a $2.9 million investment grant from JobsOhio, the Athens County Port Authority announced Wednesday morning. JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) and the Athens County Port Authority together announced site development at the Bill […]
Read MoreAthens County Industrial Park Receives $2.9M Site Development Grant to Attract New Business
Athens, Ohio: May 6, 2020 –– JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) and the Athens County Port Authority today announced that site development at the Bill Theisen Industrial Park in Athens County will be supported with a $2.9 million JobsOhio Grant. The grant will support site preparation for building construction by business occupants. Work will include […]
Read MoreOU researchers receive grant funding; seek treatment for possible fatal complications of COVID-19
OHIO News May 1, 2020 Faculty researchers from Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and Russ College of Engineering and Technology have received a $100,000 grant to investigate possible treatments for mitigating the severity of COVID-19. Kelly McCall, Ph.D., and Douglas Goetz, Ph.D., will measure how effective a number of different chemical compounds are […]
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