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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.
OHIO’s new CoLab in Alden Library officially opens, creating a space for collaboration and innovation
Click here for the original story in the Ohio University Compass From Staff Reports (L to R) Executive Vice President and Provost Chaden Djalali, President M. Duane Nellis, National Trustee David Pidwell and Board of Trustees Chair David Scholl participate in the ribbon cutting of OHIO’s new CoLab. Photographer: Stephen Zenner/Ohio University Libraries Ohio […]
Read MoreAthens County Sends Proposed Lodging Tax Collection Agreement to Airbnb
By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist Note: This story appears in the Thursday, Nov. 8 newspaper on Page A3. Click here for the original story. A proposed agreement calling for Airbnb to collect Athens County’s 3 percent transient lodging tax was approved Tuesday by the county commissioners and has been submitted to the company for […]
Read MoreCommunity assessment under way for Athens and OU
Click here for the original story in the Athens News Athens Mayor Steve Patterson and City Council President Chis Knisely are urging residents in the “45701” area code (the Athens area) who don’t work for Ohio University to take part in a community assessment “to understand the quality of the relationship between the city […]
Read MoreState announces plans for new Hocking Hills Lodge
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Grace Warner For The Messenger On Wednesday, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources shared that the new Hocking Hills State Park Lodge will have overnight stay options. This is the artist rendering of the proposed new lodge. LOGAN — The Ohio Department of […]
Read MoreAdvantage Capital Invests in Ohio-Based RXQ Compounding, LLC
Click here for the original story in InvestorPoint ST. LOUIS RXQ looks to create as many as 100 jobs in rural Ohio, highlighting significant economic impact of the Ohio Rural Business Growth Program Advantage Capital today announced a nearly $3.6 million investment in RXQ Compounding, LLC, an FDA-approved outsourcing facility that manufactures medical formularies and […]
Read MoreAthens business receives $5,000 national award for green home products
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger Nature’s Magic of Athens was one of two small businesses that recently received a $5,000 People & Planet Award from Green America, in recognition of the business “being committed to bettering the environment and society.” According to a press release, Nature’s Magic offers plant-based, non-toxic […]
Read MoreNew economic grants to help local groups, create jobs in region
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger From staff reports Among millions of dollars announced this month for various projects in Appalachia, one such program based at Ohio University has received $750,000 of grant funding. The Appalachian Regional Commission, a federal agency representing Ohio and 12 other states, is providing this […]
Read MoreRed Bull distribution warehouse planned for Albany
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist ALBANY — Construction is expected to begin soon on a 10,000-square-foot warehouse from which Red Bull, an energy drink, will be distributed in Southeastern Ohio. The site is on Carpenter Road and is within the village of Albany. […]
Read MoreAthens County Business Survey
Would you mind taking a few minutes to fill out the Athens County Business Climate Survey? It should only take 5-10 minutes and will help inform the Athens County Economic Development Council and the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce of the met and unmet needs of our local business community. This survey is anonymous; however, […]
Read MoreCounty asked to join special improvement district
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist The Athens County Commissioners have been asked to join the special improvement district that Mayor Steve Patterson is pursuing for uptown Athens. Patterson met with the commissioners on Tuesday. The district would be a way of funding such […]
Read MorePopulation Growth Seen As A Key Driver Of Ohio’s Future Economic Success
Ohio has succeeded in creating jobs, but continues to lag behind other states in key indicators of economic growth, according to a report released Tuesday. The report produced by Montrose Development Advisors noted the world is moving away from traditional manufacturing that for decades bolstered the state’s economy and toward new types of businesses. It was intended […]
Read MoreWith NYTimes writer present, local biz owners tell of community involvement
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By ABBEY MARSHALL For The Messenger Throughout the Appalachian region, local citizens and businesses work to make their own differences in the community. Several Athens entrepreneurs were lauded at a local panel Sept. 27 moderated by David Brooks, a New York Times columnist and regular […]
Read MoreLand bank moves ahead cautiously on Eagles building
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Larry Di Giovanni Messenger Staff Journalist NELSONVILLE — Members of the Athens County land bank voted Wednesday to move ahead on plans to acquire the historic Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge No. 39 in Nelsonville, despite expressions of concern about the building’s crumbling […]
Read MoreFarmers Market continues to look toward future
Click here for the original story in the Athens News By Kayla Beard Athens Community Center ‘campus’ under consideration for possible new market site; no timeline set yet The East Side dog park, shown here, has been discussed in the past as a possible new site for the Athens Farmers Market. It’s unclear whether it’s […]
Read MoreAthens County unemployment falls as state’s rises
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Heather Willard Messenger Staff Journalist August unemployment numbers show that unemployment has fallen in all counties in the Athens area. Ohio’s unemployment rate rose slightly in July, but remained constant in August, at odds with the national unemployment rate — which fell […]
Read MoreOU Innovation Center awarded Rural Business Development Grant
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By OU Compass Ohio University’s Innovation Center has announced a Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture worth $99,000, with funds to help purchase biotechnology equipment for use by small and emerging private businesses served by the business incubator. […]
Read MoreNelsonville 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 […]
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