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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.
Distillery moves to Athens; will feature tasting room
By Conor Morris Click here to see original story in the Athens News. The co-owner of the West End Ciderhouse hosted a tour last week showcasing a new distillery facility on Athens’ West Side that soon will be selling retail bottles of locally crafted liquor and cider. The distillery, previously known as Dancing Tree Distillery, […]
Read MoreLow-income housing credits awarded for renovation project at Carpenter Hall
Click here to see original story in the Athens News. Finance Fund has been awarded low-income housing tax credits (“LIHTC”) from Ohio Housing Finance Agency to preserve affordable housing in Athens, according to a news release from the Fund, a statewide nonprofit. Carpenter Hall, a 53-unit development built in the early 1980s, consists of six […]
Read MoreCounty to pay off taxes to get former Dollar General building
By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist Click here for original story in the Athens Messenger. GLOUSTER — The Athens County Commissioners voted Monday to spend $4,000 to acquire the former Dollar General building in Glouster by paying off property taxes that are owed. The current owner of the building is JSMN Ohio Properties LLC of […]
Read MoreLunch & Learn, June 20, 2019: Let John Sammon, CEO of Sixth City Marketing, unveil his insider tips for where to start in Analytics.
Lunch & Learn – June 20, 2019 (11:30 am – 1:00 pm). Please visit Sixth City Marketing’s website to learn more. Are you regularly looking at your website statistics? If so, are you overwhelmed by the data? You could be missing out on key insights, which could significantly impact current or future online marketing efforts. […]
Read MoreIntelliwave gets nod to put broadband in sewer project area
By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist Click here to read original story in the Athens Messenger. Intelliwave, an Athens-based company, has won the right to install infrastructure for broadband internet along the path of the Route 50 sanitary sewer project. The Athens County Commissioners sent out a request seeking proposals from companies interested in installing […]
Read MoreDesign plans nearing completion for Route 50 sewer project
By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist Click here to read original story in the Athens Messenger. Design plans for the Route 50W sanitary sewer project are expected to be completed by May 24, and Athens County officials are now aiming to put the project out to bid in July. The Athens County Commissioners discussed the […]
Read MoreAlbany officials support annexation request
By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist Click here to see original story in the Athens Messenger. Albany officials urged the Athens County Commissioners on Tuesday to allow the annexation of a piece of land into the village. G&H Diversified Properties is seeking annexation of 1.483 acres of property located at the intersection of Route 50 […]
Read MoreOptions still in play for county building space needs
By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist Click here for original story in the Athens News. Athens County officials are still exploring options for finding a new home for the local OhioMeansJobs office, with the possibility of constructing a building now being mentioned. Relocating OhioMeansJobs is just one real estate issue the commissioners are trying to […]
Read MorePlans call for Athens to Albany, Nelsonville bus service – New routes projected to start in August
By Kayla Beard Click here for original story in The Athens News. Athens Public Transit is getting closer to beginning a pilot program that would extend fixed-route bus services between Athens and the communities of Nelsonville and Albany. The Athens County Commissioners last week joined numerous other local partners in committing funds to the pilot […]
Read MoreAthens Twp. decides to move ahead with Plains zoning
By Kayla Beard Click here to read original article in the Athens News. After nearly a year of conversations among area elected officials, a plan to establish zoning regulations in The Plains is moving forward for part of that unincorporated area. Athens Township will soon be seeking volunteers to serve on a zoning commission that […]
Read MoreBus line to Albany, Nelsonville nears HAPCAP funding goal
By Heather Willard Messenger Staff Journalist Click here to read original story in the Athens Messenger. The Athens County Commissioners are pledging funding toward a pilot plan to create public transportation routes to Albany and Nelsonville. Jessie Schmitzer of Hocking, Athens, Perry Community Action presented the plan at the commissioners’ meeting Tuesday. Schmitzer, the Athens […]
Read MoreSOPEC hires new executive director
By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist Click here for original story in the Athens Messenger. A Washington County man with a background in solar energy has been hired as the new executive director of the Southeast Ohio Public Energy Council, effective July 1. Luke Sulfridge, 38, is founding Ohio program director of Solar United Neighbors, […]
Read MoreMore steps taken toward Route 50 sewer project
By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist Click here to read original story in the Athens Messenger. Several actions related to the Route 50 sanitary sewer project were taken by the Athens County Commissioners at their meeting Tuesday as they prepare to put the project out to bid. Commission President Lenny Eliason said he expects the […]
Read MoreOU to preserve pieces of Factory St. building for new café
By TYLER BUCHANAN Messenger editor Click here to read original story in the Athens Messenger. The historic brick building at 9 Factory St. will soon be demolished, but Ohio University intends to preserve some of it for a unique purpose. The historic brick building at 9 Factory St. has been the home of many things […]
Read MoreCannabis Economy: With Medical Marijuana, Ohio’s Meigs County Hopes To Cash In On “Golden” Opportunity
By: Aaron Payne | Ohio Valley ReSource Posted on: Friday, April 19, 2019 See original story here from WOUB. Meigs County, Ohio, has a complicated history with marijuana. “Meigs County Gold” has been grown illegally for years. Local legend has it that was the strain of choice for musicians like the Grateful Dead and Willie Nelson when they […]
Read MoreJobsOhio makes grant offer to Global Cooling
By STEVE ROBB, Messenger staff journalist Click here for original story in the Athens Messenger. JobsOhio has offered Global Cooling $250,000 in grant money for the Athens County company’s expansion, according to a county economic development official, who also said there is a separate $228,805 grant offer for road improvements. Global Cooling is located at […]
Read MoreOhioHealth announces medical office building project
From staff reports Click here for original story in The Athens Messenger. Note: This story appears in the Wednesday, April 17 newspaper on Page A1. OhioHealth has announced plans for a new medical office building to be located near O’Bleness Hospital in Athens. The $11.3 million project involves construction of a two-story, 30,000-square-foot building, and […]
Read MoreGlobal Cooling seeks funding for jobs growth
By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist Click here to see original story in the Athens Messenger. Note: This story appears in the Sunday, April 14 newspaper on Page A1. Global Cooling Inc. is pursuing financial help through JobsOhio as it seeks to expand. An expansion could lead to more jobs in Athens County. Global Cooling, […]
Read MoreAthens parking garage to receive $630,000 facelift
By Kayla Beard Click here for original story in the Athens News. The city of Athens plans to update the uptown parking garage with new colors and signs that are intended to make the structure more visible and user-friendly. Athens City Council members listened to a presentation late last month from city Service-Safety Director Andy […]
Read MoreDesign work continuing on project to improve Stimson stretch
By Kayla Beard Click here for the original story in the Athens News. Stage two of the design engineering phase for the Stimson Avenue improvements project will require the city of Athens to appropriate additional funds. The city has gathered input from stakeholders and community members to decide on one of several design alternatives, and is […]
Read MoreSolar firm installs rooftop panels at Fed-Hock school
By Kayla Beard – Apr 7, 2019 Please click here to see article in The Athens News. The Federal-Hocking Secondary School campus in Stewart soon will start obtaining the majority of its energy needs from newly installed solar panels. According to a post on the School District’s Facebook page, Athens-based Third Sun Solar began the installation process […]
Read MorePlan moving forward for Buchtel to join regional district
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist Progress is being made toward Buchtel joining the regional water and sewer district that Nelsonville is creating. On Tuesday, the Athens County Commissioners voted to have Commission President Lenny Eliason negotiate terms of the transfer with Nelsonville officials. Eliason said he […]
Read MoreCounty OKs change in sewer plans
Click here for the original story in the Athens Messenger By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist A request by residents earlier this month to alter plans for part of the sanitary sewer extension into Highland Park subdivision was approved Tuesday by the Athens County Commissioners. Later this spring, the commissioners expect to seek bids […]
Read MoreNear 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 […]
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