Did You Know?
Juneteenth is this Friday, June 19th.

On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger and his Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas with the news that the enslaved were all free. It is important to note that this was 2 ½ years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. There are many versions as to why it took so long to inform all states and their citizens. This date marks the true date of emancipation for those enslaved in the outskirts of our young country.   
Juneteenth commemorates this overdue declaration of freedom. The movement continues to grow in visibility through the celebration of African-American freedom and achievement. We believe that embracing diversity helps strengthen the entire community and makes Athens so special. Juneteenth is indeed an extraordinary opportunity to highlight the continued fight for freedom and equality.   

The Northeast Georgia Business Alliance has had programming celebrating Juneteenth since June 1. To learn more, please visit the their Juneteenth page on their website and follow them on social media . 

Chamber Champion Spotlight
Chastain & Associates Insurance Agency has been serving the Athens area for more than 100 years. They provide insurance products and risk management solutions to both business and personal lines customers. Their business is built on solid relationships – relationships with their insurance carriers, relationships with their fellow employees, and relationships with their customers. The local Athens area community is very important to them. This community can count on them to reinvest in it by supporting local schools and non-profits. Relationships matter. Please contact them to build one together .

Dr. Xernona Thomas, interim superintendent for Clarke County School District , wrote an inspiring letter regarding racial injustice and the state of current events. CCSD also created this resource to help parents start conversations about race with their children.
To further meet the needs of U.S. small businesses and non-profits, the U.S. Small Business Administration reopened the  Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance program portal  to all eligible applicants experiencing economic impacts due to COVID-19. Apply today if you still need financial assistance!


Upcoming Chamber Chats

Join us every other Wednesday, including tomorrow, as we get Business/Community Updates with:

More details about this call can be found here .
Join in on Thursday, June 18th at 10:00 AM for a conversation for nonprofit leaders to share best practices, provide support, and map out the future together!


More details about this call can be found here .
This Thursday at noon, Tim Harrison from Integrated Accounting Advisors will be discussing accounting and tax issues that business owners need to take into consideration for 2020. This a FREE webinar series presented by the UGA Small Business Development Center.


More details about this series can be found here .
Join us for this  special leadership development session  for Chamber members!

Most of us don’t think about equipping others until it’s too late.
It may be someone who leaves your team (voluntarily or not) & leaves a void behind because no one else knows how to fill. It could be that your weekly load increases to the point that you need to offload important tasks to someone you can trust, but it’s hard to find the time to do so. Sometimes it is because you’re working toward stepping away from the business or team in the near future & you want to insure that they thrive even after you’re gone. Whatever the circumstance, the ‘how’ of equipping others is always where the pain is felt. Learn three tools that can help you effectively multiply into the lives of those you lead.
Georgia Chamber of Commerce Events
It is Georgia's leading industry with peanuts and poultry at its core. Understand the impact that COVID-19 has had on this unique sector for our state and learn how farmers, processing plants and other key contributors to this industry are working to feed the world through this pandemic.


Click here   to register for this call .

Join the Georgia Chamber of Commerce for their Future of Manufacturing virtual event to hear experts discuss Georgia's economy and the manufacturing industry. This two part event will take place on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 from 11:00 AM - 12 Noon, and Wednesday June 24, 2020 from 11:00 AM - 12 Noon.


Click here   to register for this call .
The Athens Area Chamber is always looking for new ways to bring value to our members and we think we have found a new sales tool that you are going to love! It’s an e-gift card solution called Giftfly , which will be a new way to boost sales and bring in additional dollars NOW , when you need it most.


Click here to learn more about how using Giftfly can be beneficial to your business!

The NEW Athens Quality of Life Guide by 365 Degree Total Marketing is here! Share this on your own digital platforms to let everyone know how great it is to live in Athens.
To recognize the contributions of the artists who made Athens a destination for music fans, the  Athens Cultural Affairs Commission plans to launch the Athens Music Walk of Fame this summer! The first ten honorees will be announced soon. Click here to learn more about this endeavor.
Live Wire Athens  is offering a special Wedding Industry Happy Hour EVERY Wednesday this summer from 5-6 pm. Come grab a drink, check out the space, and chat with other wedding planners, photographers, caterers, florists, etc. Anyone who works in the wedding industry in any capacity is invited!

You may bring anyone you like and stay until they close for the night. They will be honoring social distancing and other safety recommendations.


Click here  for more information.

Be sure to continue checking our  Covid-19 Resources  page for all of our upcoming calls, recordings of previous calls, and important resources relating to Covid-19 in Athens.
Thank you to all of our 2020 Chamber Champions!
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