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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.
Nelsonville receives $500K neighborhood grant
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Larry Di Giovanni Messenger Staff Journalist NELSONVILLE — The city of Nelsonville has received a $500,000 Neighborhood Revitalization Grant, which will focus on improved mobility and safety when traveling through some streets as well as improvements to Polley Field Park. The […]
Read MoreLand bank acquires first property
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Larry Di Giovanni Messenger Staff Journalist This property on Toledo Street in Glouster, with the mobile home to be removed by the previous owner, became the Athens County Land Bank’s first property acquisition this past Monday through a process known as a […]
Read MoreOU president takes tour of 4 area businesses, institutions
Click here for the original story in the Athens News By Kayla Beard Ohio University President Duane Nellis, left, observes as Global Cooling, Inc. CEO Neill Lane presents the company’s ultra-cold refrigerator. In an effort to learn more about businesses and institutions in Athens and Hocking counties, Ohio University President Duane Nellis spent the […]
Read MoreOU prepares to start significant Ridges renovation projects
Click here for the original story in the Athens News By Conor Morris This illustration shows the layout of buildings discussed in this article. It’s cropped from a larger graphic that OU previously released. Ohio University is moving forward with several projects to renovate and repair facilities at The Ridges, with the first phase […]
Read MoreStewMac Building to be a designated historic building
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Heather Willard Messenger Staff Journalist The stately, brick building at the corner of Shafer and State Streets has long been known by Athens residents as a focal point of the city’s west side. Now, more than a century after being first built, […]
Read MoreNew office building planned for Stimson Avenue
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Steve Robb Messenger Staff Journalist Two small brick houses that more than 100 years ago served as homes of Athens Brick Co. workers were being demolished Tuesday to make way for a new office building on Stimson Avenue. Pete Good, who […]
Read MoreRegional sewer project receives cash infusion from Army
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Larry Di Giovanni, Messenger Staff Journalist NELSONVILLE — The City of Nelsonville continues to make progress on a regional sewer project estimated at more than $16 million, with City Manager Charles Barga announcing before City Council recently that the Army Corps of Engineers […]
Read MoreLocal company plans expansion into Theisen Industrial Park
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Steve Robb Messenger Staff Journalist A local company has expansion plans and is in the process of purchasing vacant buildings at Theisen Industrial Park near The Plains. QuickLoadz, a company in Nelsonville that produces high-tech trailers for moving shipping containers, will be […]
Read MoreIHOP coming to Athens
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Steve Robb Messenger Staff Journalist An International House of Pancakes restaurant will be opening in a few months on East State Street in Athens, according to a company official. “Our goal is to be open before Thanksgiving,” said Tommy Tsitouris, who […]
Read MoreGoodwill to open local activities/training center
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Steve Robb In addition to soon having a new store in Athens, Goodwill Industries will be opening an adjacent training center. Marvin Jones, CEO of Goodwill Industries of South Central Ohio, said the Athens Activities and Training Center is expected to […]
Read MoreSewer expansion headed toward EPA permit review
Click here for the original story in the Athens News By Kayla Beard The Athens County Commissioners on Tuesday authorized a permit application to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for the sanitary sewer expansion project in the U.S. Rt. 50 corridor southwest of Athens. This is considered a significant move forward for the long-planned […]
Read MoreAthens company named top solar provider in Ohio
Click here for the original story in the Athens News Announced this week, Athens-based Third Sun Solar, a leading provider of commercial, public sector and residential solar solutions, has been named the top solar provider in Ohio as part of the 2018 Solar Power World Top 500 Solar Contractors List. Nationwide, the company […]
Read MoreCommissioners updated on Route 50 sewer project
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Steve Robb, Messenger Staff Journalist Design plans for the Route 50 sanitary sewer project are nearly complete, and on Tuesday the Athens County Commissioners authorized the project engineer to submit a permit application to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The estimated $28.8 million […]
Read MoreOhio ‘earthworks’ sites seen as economic generator
Click here for the original story in the Athens News By John Lasker The world-famous Serpent Mound near Peebles, in south-central Ohio. Photo courtesy of the non-profit Arc of Appalachia. The United Nations may soon designate the Newark Octagon and other prominent Native American Ohio earthworks as World Heritage sites. The Octagon, […]
Read MoreTax Free holiday set for first weekend in August
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Heather Willard Messenger Staff Journalist Ohio’s annual sales tax holiday is just around the corner, having been set for Friday, Aug. 3 through Sunday, Aug. 5 this year. The weekend is designed to help back-to-school shoppers save money on common items by listing […]
Read MoreExpedited foreclosure process being considered to help with blight
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Steve Robb Messenger Staff Journalist The Athens County Board of Revision is considering adopting rules and procedures that would allow for expedited foreclosures on tax-delinquent properties that are vacant and abandoned. Such a procedure would be intended to aid in removal of blighted […]
Read MoreAthens County unemployment rises along with entire state
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger From staff reports Unemployment rates rose in June among all Ohio counties, echoing both the national unemployment rate, which also rose at a slight rate. Ohio’s unemployment rate in June rose to 4.5 percent, up from 4.3 percent in May. That 4.5 […]
Read MoreReUse Industries opens combined store/makerspace
Click here for the original story in the Athens News Athens MakerSpace and a new store called “ReUse on Union” are now open at 751 W. Union St. in Athens, according to a news release. The 5,000-square-foot Athens Makerspace provides tools, workspace and classes in woodworking, metalworking, fabric-fiber arts, 3D printing, sustainable design […]
Read MoreIs zoning in the cards for The Plains or Athens Twp.?
Renewed call for zoning in The Plains spurs discussions, though opposition is expected By Kayla Beard Click here for the original story in the Athens News Some residents in The Plains recently have expressed a desire for mild zoning regulations, something that has long been opposed by many residents of The Plains and other […]
Read MoreACEnet unveils new food processing facility
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Heather Willard Messenger Staff Journalist NELSONVILLE — ACEnet unveiled a food processing facility at its new Food and Farm Enterprise Center on Friday in Nelsonville. ACEnet, which stands for Appalachian Center for Economic Networks, is a business incubator with locations in both Athens […]
Read MoreOhioHealth announces new Sustainability Plan
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Erin Franczak OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital announced a new focus on sustainability this week, with plans to improve its environmental impact in the years ahead. The Sustainability Plan was announced Tuesday and is set to begin on Sunday. The five-year plan focuses on three […]
Read MoreCounty concerns on Route 50W sewer project are alleviated
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Larry Di Giovanni Messenger Staff Journalist Despite concerns about public meeting “performance” and the project timeline, the Athens County Commissioners appeared to have all of their questions satisfied Tuesday concerning the $25 million Route 50W sanitary sewer project. Their questions were directed toward […]
Read More2018 Economic Familiarization Tour
May 11th, 2018 the Athens County Port Authority sponsored an Economic Development Familiarization Tour as part of National Economic Development Week . Elected officials along with the public were invited to visit local business to learn more about them and the impact they have on the community. Along with that participants were learned more about the […]
Read MoreOfficials note Athens County Land Bank progress
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Larry Di Giovanni Messenger Staff Journalist Progress is being made on the Athens County Land Bank, with nearly a dozen active projects being eyed for potential acquisition, possibly later this year. Eleven such properties are located throughout the county, including three vacant, dilapidated […]
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