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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.
Near East Side gets a new natural-foods grocery
Click here for the original story in the Athens News By Conor Morris From left to right, family members Jeremy Kinnard, Kindred Market General Manager Riley Kinnard, Kristi Kinnard, Valerie Kinnard and Tim Kinnard. They’re seen here posing in front of the soon-to-open grocery store on East State Street in Athens. Photo by Conor […]
Read MoreConstruction moves ahead on schedule for The Ridges
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Heather Willard Messenger Staff Journalist Lin Hall, which houses the Kennedy Art Museum, is seen in this file photo of the Ridges. Messenger photo by John Halley Note: This story appears in the Sunday, March 10 newspaper on Page A1. If all goes […]
Read MoreRXQ construction project delayed, tax abatement extended
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist Edward Zatta (left), president RXQ Compounding, and business partner Christopher Tenoglia, are seen in February 2018 standing in front of steel framing for the company’s manufacturing facility that is under construction in Albany. Note: This story appears in […]
Read MoreOhio is Home finds a new home on Court Street
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Heather Willard Messenger Staff Journalist Note: This story appears in the Sunday, March 3 newspaper on Page A1. Ohio is Home has a new home: Court Street. The Athens-based brand will be moving to 43 S. Court Street, with its lease having began Friday. […]
Read MoreNew chocolate business operating in Athens
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Steve Robb Messenger staff journalist Lindsay Klaunig pours her goat milk chocolate into bar molds at the ACEnet kitchen in Athens Messenger photo by John Halley It’s all about the beans. If Lindsay Klaunig’s philosophy about making chocolate were to be summed up […]
Read MoreLittle Fish has a new kitchen and chef
Click here for the original story in the Athens News By Max Ramsey Becca Farley, left, and Sam Duvall work the counter at the Little Fish Brewing Co.’s new kitchen this past fall. Provided photo. Little Fish Brewing Company recently hired a new interim chef to overhaul kitchen operations and introduce new foods at the […]
Read MoreStudy: Economically distressed Appalachian Ohio showing some improvement
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Joe Higgins OU Compass Note: This story appears in the Sunday, Feb. 3 newspaper on Page A3. If the Appalachian counties of Ohio were combined into their own separate state, it would be the second-most economically distressed state in the country. However, that […]
Read MoreNew ‘Business Advisory Council’ meant to help Athens students get ahead
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Heather Willard Messenger Staff Journalist Note: This story appears in the Wednesday, Feb. 6 newspaper on Page A1. THE PLAINS — The Athens City School District is organizing a Business Advisory Council to provide new learning opportunities for its students. Business Advisory Councils (BACs) […]
Read MoreTour of former Atco building highlights potential uses
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Steve Robb Messenger Staff Journalist The former Atco sheltered workshop building on Campbell Street in Athens was toured Tuesday by the Athens County Commissioners as they try to figure out how space in the county-owned building will be utilized and by […]
Read MoreProject RISE seeks to elevate local students after high school
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Heather Willard Messenger Staff Journalist The inside of Athens Mold and Machine is pictured in this Messenger file photo. A new program known as Project RISE is providing opportunities for local students such as apprenticeships and career mentoring. Athens Mold and Machine is among […]
Read MoreUse of eminent domain a possibility on Route 50 sewer project
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Steve Robb Messenger staff journalist Note: This story appears in the Wednesday, Jan. 23 newspaper on Page A1. A resolution approved Tuesday by the Athens County Commissioners is a first step for use of eminent domain on the Route 50 sewer project, but it’s […]
Read MorePort Authority plans new buildings in industrial park
Click here for the original story in the Athens News By Fred Kight Officials hope the new facilities will attract jobs The proposed buildings at the Bill Thiesen Industrial Park in this diagram are in reddish brown. Provided image. The Athens County Port Authority is taking steps to invest as much as $14 million […]
Read MoreAdding buildings to Theisen Industrial Park being considered
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By Steve Robb Messenger Staff Journalist Lack of available space at Theisen Industrial Park has been a stumbling block to attracting more companies to the park and creating jobs. The Athens County Port Authority, which owns the park, hopes to remedy that by investing […]
Read MoreCounty 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 […]
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