We have updated our Stimulus Relief and Recovery Landing Page on the Athens Chamber of Commerce Website! |
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In the past few weeks, another Stimulus Package was finalized, including extended unemployment benefits, a second round of stimulus checks, as well as provisions for added funds towards the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) originated in the first bill.
The Athens Chamber of Commerce will serve as the center of information to aid businesses in getting the most out of upcoming funds. To continue this effort, the Chamber will host a variety of workshops available this week addressing Paycheck Protection Program Funds.
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Upcoming Workshops Include:
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Nominations are now Open!
Honorees to be announced at upcoming Annual Meeting
All award nominations are due Monday, January 11th!
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The Chamber of Commerce has extended the nominations deadline for the ATHENA award until January 2021!
Sponsored by Heyward Allen
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ATHENA International was founded in 1982 to honor women leaders and bring balance to leadership voices worldwide. At the Chamber, we continue this initiative by honoring a recipient with the ATHENA Award. This very prestigious award actively supports and celebrates the ATHENA mission by honoring individuals who meet a certain criteria:
- Strive toward their highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment
- Excel in their chosen field
- Devote time and energy to their community
- Actively assist others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential.
If you know an amazing woman that meets this criteria, please feel free to nominate them! We are so excited to continue on this great honoring.
Nominations are due Monday, January 11th!
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Spirit of Athens Award: Sponsored by Synovus
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Nominate the dedicated individual who is always committed to the advancement of our community!
Nomination criteria includes:
- Advancement of our community through his or her tireless work with the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.
- Someone who devotes personal time and shares their talent to improve our quality of life, to motivate others and to enhance the integrity of the community.
- A visionary leader who is always ready and available to help.
If you would like to nominate you or someone you know, fill the application out below! Winners will be announced during the annual meeting.
Nominations are due Monday, January 11th!
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Small Business of the Year Award |
The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce annually recognizes a small business for extraordinary success within the company and the community. Please help to highlight a local business for this prestigious award by nominating them (self-nominations are welcome and encouraged)!
Award Criteria:
- Nominee must have an active business in Athens-Clarke or Oconee County with no more than 50 full-time employees
- Nominee must have been in business at least 3 years
- While chamber membership/participation is not mandatory it is valued in making this determination
If you would like to nominate you or someone you know, fill the application out below! Winners will be announced during the annual meeting.
Nominations are due Monday, January 11th!
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Upshaw Bentley Citizen of the Year Award |
The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce annually recognizes the Upshaw Bentley Citizen of the Year. The award is meant to recognize individuals, not for a particular year of volunteer service, but rather to recognize a person who has performed outstanding and dedicated volunteer service to the community and/or towards helping others over time separate from their employment responsibilities. The individual nominated must have provided such volunteer service in the Athens/Clarke County Area.
Award Criteria:
- Nominees must live or have lived in Athens/Clarke County.
- While Chamber membership/participation is not mandatory it is valued in making this determination.
If you would like to nominate you or someone you know, fill the application out below! Winners will be announced during the annual meeting.
Nominations are due Monday, January 11th!
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You Don't Want to Miss This! |
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The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center Presents: Preparing for the 2nd Round of COVID-19 Relief Funding! |
Join the SBDC for an overview of the proposed SBA funding programs for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
What can you expect from this webinar?
During the webinar, you will receive information on the proposed components and features of the recently passed legislation concerning the 2nd Draw Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the changes to the SBA Debt Relief Program.
The SBDC will also provide recommendations for actions to take now in order to best prepare to take advantage of these programs once the SBA releases the guidelines (expected in January 2021).
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These one hour webinars will be led by a team of expert business consultants from the UGA SBDC. In additional to the prepared presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session.
Upcoming Dates Include:
- Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 2:00 p.m. EST
- Thursday, Jan. 7 at 10:00 a.m. EST
- On-Demand Version is also available
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Do you miss the ability to Network? Join a Leads Group! |
Are you interested in gaining trusted relationships with other businesses in the Athens Community? Austin "Tex" Bagley, from 3tree Realty, along with other business leaders have started their very own leads group! The goal of this group is to share leads and generate business opportunities for its participants as well as develop trusted relationships through the networking process. With a leads group, only one business from each sector is represented (e.g one banker, one realtor, one insurance company, etc.) so there is no competition within the group.
This leads group has already began to meet (the 1st Tuesday of each month at noon) and they want to welcome any businesses who may want to join in this great opportunity! If you are interested in joining a Leads Group, feel free to Email Tex Bagley below!
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Businesses who have already joined:
3tree Realty | Peach State Federal Credit Union | American Pest Control
DSI Group | Butcher Health Law
Persist SEO | Capital City Home Loans | State Farm | Lauren Harrell Design | Spotless Athens | Comfort Systems USA | Classic Center | Responsive Technology Partners
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Secure your position in the Official 2021 Athens Area Chamber Guide! |
The Athens Area Chamber Community Guide is a great resource for businesses and townies alike! Those who advertise in the Chamber Guide will enjoy numerous benefits and the ability to reach various members of the Athens community.
If you would like to be featured in this guide, please reach out to Nelson Smith, Regional Marketing Executive at (404) 625-4153 or at the email address below!
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Kick off the New Year with Athens on Ice at the Classic Center! |
The holiday season may be wrapping up, but you still have until January 31st to enjoy a fun day of ice skating at the Classic Center!
There will be a few differences for this year's round of ice skating including mandatory mask wearing at all times, mobile ticketing only, all outdoor access to the facility, and easier access to parking and the skating rink itself.
Skate sessions are 75 minutes of fun at only $15 per ticket. Groups of ten or more are eligible for $12 tickets. Grab your tickets below!
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Rena Harris, Executive Director of GA Options, talks about her organization and how being a member of the AACOC has helped them make important connections.
If you would like to send in a testimonial to the Chamber, use the link below! If you have any questions, please email victoria@athensga.com
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Special greetings to our new members of the week! Welcome! |
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Welcome to the AACOC, Companion Animal Hospital! We are so happy to have you on board! |
Looking for Veterinary Services in Athens?
Companion Animal Hospital offers a wide range of veterinary services for pets in the following areas:
- Pet wellness and vaccination programs to prevent illnesses
- Animal medical services for diagnosing and treating health conditions
- Pet surgery including spay and neuter
- Pet dental cleanings and treatment to avoid serious dental diseases
- And many more
To top it off, new clients receive a $20.00 offer for first time visits!
Learn more about our newest member at the link below!
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American Pest Control Hosts Fundraiser benefitting Foodbank of Northeast Georgia as a part of their Operation 50-50 year-long Campaign! |
American Pest Control invites you to kick off your new year right by getting active for a cause. Operation 50-50 is the year-long campaign created by American Pest Control to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Starting in Nov. 2020, they have already completed “50 hours in 50 days”, a community service project. Now American Pest Control will shift its focus towards, “50 Miles in 50 days”.
Registration for the 50 Miles in 50 Days campaign opens on January 6 and will stay open for 25 days, closing on January 31. This exciting venture is encouraging people to commit to walk or run a total of 50 miles in as many days. 100% of the $20.00 registration fee will be donated to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia to support their mission of ending hunger. American Pest Control will provide participants with an event T-shirt and exclusive digital swag.
Click below for more information!
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W&A Engineering partners with Athens Running Company to help raise donations for Athens Humane Society! |
Support a charity by shopping local at Athens Running Company! Beginning this Sunday and all throughout the week of December 20th you can help raise $500 for the Athens Humane Society!
W&A Engineering will be matching their first $500 in sales this week as a donation to the Athens Humane Society, a donor-supported, no-kill non-profit organization dedicated to lowering area euthanasia rates through adoption, spay/neuter, and pet retention programs.
This initiative is part of W&A Engineering’s 20th Anniversary celebration, in which they have launched a year-long program, the Building Better Communities Local Business Partnership that focuses on giving back to the communities that have helped support them.
Learn more by visiting the link below!
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FireFly Trail Race Series is coming near you! |
The Firefly Trail is a planned 39-mile rail-trail from Athens to Union Point in Northeast Georgia, connecting Athens-Clarke, Oglethorpe, and Greene Counties.
To aid in the continuation of this development, FireFly Trail will be hosting a FireFly Trail Race Series! This series consists of four races - Snowflake 10K in Winterville, Maxeys Model Mile 5K in Maxeys, Restoration Run 5K in Crawford and Junction Jamboree Jog 5K in Union Point. Participants can sign up for the series for a cost of $70.00. Each race on the series donates a major portion of their proceeds back to the FireFly Trail for development in their community.
To learn more information, visit the website below!
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Thank you to all of our 2020 Chamber Champions! |
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Follow us on social media! |
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