Did You Know?

Books for Keeps is Launching their One Books Athens Campaign! The AACOC is involved and we want you to get involved too!

One Book Athens is an annual, community-wide, shared discussion of a common book. Other communities have hosted this effort, and Books for Keeps is bringing it to Athens for the first time, and would love for businesses to get involved! Ways to get involved: Purchase copies of the book for adults: $450 purchases 25 copies of the book for adults in which businesses are encouraged to keep copies for pickup at your business location. Your business will then be promoted as a location for pickup for community members which provides you recognition and free traffic. Purchase copies of the book for students: $310 purchases 50 copies of the book for middle and high school students to be distributed directly to students. You will still be recognized in promotional materials used for social media and other outlets. Participate in the community wide read in 2021 by participating in community wide book discussions and events, hosting reading and discussions at your place of business, etc.! The book: Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X, Kendi and Jason Reynolds If interested, email Leslie Hale below! Email

Upcoming Chamber Events!

Join us for Business After Hours at Athentic Brewing Company! We are so excited to hold our 2nd Business After Hours in quite some time! Come join us for socially distanced networking and enjoy a beer and some nibbles! This event will be held on Thursday, April 1st from 5:00pm-7:00pm on 108 Park Ave Athens GA. As a special treat, Athentic Brewing has live jazz on Thursday's so come on out! This is a free event, but does require registrations to maintain a safe number of attendees (maximum 50); so confirm your attendance by clicking below! Register today

Jackson EMC and Walton Gas will be hosting the Inaugural Swing into Spring Charity Golf Tournament at the Athens Country Club in Support of the Clarke County Mentor Program and the AACOC!

Make plans to join us at this inaugural Charity Golf Tournament! 30 teams have already signed up, and we only have space for 10 more teams! Register today so you don't miss out! Event Details: Location: Athens Country Club, 2700 Jefferson Rd Athens GA 30607 Date: Monday, April 12, 2021 Time: 10:00am-6:00pm 10:00am: Arrival/Registration Opens 11:30am: Chick-fil-A boxed lunches distributed Noon: Shotgun Start 3:00pm-4:00pm: Golf Clinic 5:00pm-6:00pm: Reception and Awards Sponsorships Opportunities: Birdie Sponsor: $2,500 (2 available) Corporate logo appears on all marketing materials Recognition on all beverage carts Tent space offered at any tee box One team of 4-golfers Par Sponsor: $1,000 (10 available) Corporate logo on select marketing materials Tent space offered at select tee boxes One team of 4-golfers Golf Clinic Sponsor: $500 (5 available) Corporate logo on select marketing materials Recognition on signage at the driving range Hole Sponsor: $200 (18 available): Recognition on signage at the golf course Tent space offered at select tee boxes Register Today

Prices for those who would not like to sponsor: Foursome: $800 Individual: $200 Golf Clinic Ticket: $50 Included with Entry: Green Fee and Cart Fee Unlimited Premium Beer Unlimited Beverages and Snacks Chick-Fil-A Boxed Lunch Post Round Food and Drink 1 Entry to Win Raffle Prizes Swag Bag

Missed the Annual Meeting? Want to watch it again? See below!

If you'd like to watch the Annual Meeting, the AACOC is offering two ways of viewing on our site: Watch the entire annual Meeting Event Choose a portion of the Annual Meeting that you'd like to view Click below to take a look! View

Thank you again to all of our Annual Meeting Sponsors!

Hear from one of our Annual Meeting Sponsors, ByoPlanet International! ByoPlanet International would like to give you and your small business the opportunity to be operating back at full capacity. ByoPlanet has been working with the Classic Center, Burton & Burton, UGA Athletics, North Georgia Foodbank, and local churches to enable a return to more normal times, and we would like to offer this opportunity to our fellow members of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and local businesses. Our industry-leading Electrostatic disinfection sprayers have been developed and are produced in Athens and when combined with a proven protocol and chemistry will help you to have both your staff and customers feeling safe during the current pandemic. ByoPlanet Internationals’ electrostatic technology delivers maximum disinfection productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense.   ByoPlanet’s Electrostatic sprayers: Enable rapid and easy disinfection treatment in any facility, large and small  Convert pressurized liquid- air flow mixture into an atomized spray plume of small droplets and apply a negative charge that then allows the droplets to adhere to a surface with superior coverage View

Provide 360 degree wrap with small particles covering over , under, and around surfaces, that are usually missed with traditional pump spray systems Enable the elimination of cold and flu viruses and numerous bacteria, MRSA, Norovirus, H1N1, E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella, and Covid-19 (to name a few) Provide coverage far superior to conventional tools like pump- sprayers and foggers Save time, money, and labor ByoPlanet International wants to help the people of Athens feel safe and give back to the small business community of Athens. This service includes a one-time complimentary spray as well as a tutorial on how to use the product and where and how to purchase. If you are interested in learning more about Electrostatic Disinfecting and our complimentary disinfecting service, please contact Deborah Krause at dkrause@byoplanet.com

Read more: CloroxPro™ Partners with ISSA and Global Biorisk Advisory Council to Launch Clorox® Total 360® System Donation and GBAC Scholarship Program Click here to read the article!

Meet our Ambassador of the Month!

Meet Our Ambassador of the Month:  Hannah Angel, Global Escapes! Building relationships with clients is the foundation of Global Escapes, and Hannah embodies that spirit to the fullest. As their newest travel advisor, she quickly won the hearts of clients, who have praised her infectious enthusiasm, ability to truly empathize with their needs, and assist when help is needed most. A self-proclaimed beach girl, Hannah’s most memorable travel experiences include adventuring in Hawaii for two weeks with her family; exploring the seaside villages of Nova Scotia during a work assignment; and traveling to Jamaica, where the residents’ authentic joy despite financial hardships changed her life. When she’s not researching unique itineraries for her clients, you can find Hannah cracking us up with her terrible puns, organizing get togethers for the Young Professionals Network, heading up the silent auction for Extra Special People’s Big Hearts fundraiser, or bouncing around concert venues. We are so happy to have Hannah as a part of the AACOC Ambassadors. Thank you Hannah! Learn more

You Don't Want to Miss This!

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! Email

Join Classic City Chiropractic for their Ribbon Cutting on Friday, March 19th at 2pm! Classic City Chiropractic in partnership with the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Ribbon Cutting on Friday, March 19th at 2pm! During the event, Classic City Chiropractic will be hosting a Grand Opening and an Open House! Join us in welcoming Classic City Chiropractic to the Athens Community! This event will be hosted in-person at 514 Macon Highway, Athens, GA 30606! No registration is needed! Click below to learn more! Learn more

Reports brought to you from the Gold Dome! The Public Policy Division at the Chamber will be scheduling morning wrap up conversations with individuals in our local delegation from the Georgia House and Senate! These wrap ups will focus on important issues encountered during the week. Brief reports will be introduced each Friday through the end of the 2021 General Assembly Session! For this Friday, March 19th at 8:30am, the virtual meeting will focus on a talk with Representative Spencer Frye. If you have questions you'd like us to consider asking Representative Frye, please email David Bradley, David.Bradley@athensga.com! Click below to learn more! Learn more

U.S. Chamber Foundation - Disease X: Are We Prepared for the Next Pandemic? What have we learned from the current pandemic to help us better prepare for the next one? And what new mechanisms are in place now that we can leverage to lessen the impact on public health and the economy?   Join the U.S Chamber on March 17 at 2pm for a discussion on Disease X, where top experts will answer these questions and more! NIH’s Dr. Francis Collins will discuss the current state of the pandemic and how he’s worked to bring the world of academia together to build best practice for pandemics to prepare for the next one.  IAEA’s Rafael Grossi will share how their new ZODIAC project will establish a global network to help national laboratories in monitoring, surveillance, early detection and control of animal and zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19, Ebola, avian influenza and Zika, that kill about 2.7 million people every year. Learn more

In-Q-Tel’s Dr. Tara O'Toole will share her work on B.Next, focused on stimulating the defense against infectious disease epidemics by demonstrating the power of new and emerging technologies to rapidly detect and quench outbreaks. To learn more click below!

Members in the News!

March for Meals Virtual 5k with Meals on Wheels and ACCA! Each year, the entire month of March is designated as March for Meals! Sponsored nationally by Meals on Wheels America and locally by the Athens Community Council on Aging, the month is celebrated with a variety of opportunities to learn more about and experience the efforts at filling the plates of the older adults within our own community who are homebound or without the resources to prepare a healthy meal for themselves. Join the ACCA’s 11th annual March for Meals Virtual 5K from March 21st-March 27th! Register for the March for Meals Virtual 5K today and then head outside and run your 5K in your neighborhood, at your local park or on your treadmill before noon on Saturday, March 27. Don’t forget! Please share your virtual race pictures with us on social media with the hashtag #m4mVR2021 To read more, click below! Learn more

Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty Named to Prestigious Chairman's Circle! Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty has been named to the prestigious Coldwell Banker® Chairman’s Circle. This designation is awarded to companies who attained closed adjusted gross commission income of $10,000,000 or more during the 2020 calendar year. Only the top 9% of all Coldwell Banker companies in North America qualified and Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty is one of only 59 Coldwell Banker companies to receive this distinguished award. Read more at the link below! Learn more

Want to be featured in the Members in the News Section? To be featured in the Members in the News Section, submit your content to our 'Members in the News' section (events, press releases, employee recognitions, etc) through the Member Portal! Feel free to contact kim@athensga.com with questions! Learn more

Member Testimonials!

Hear Tammy Lindsay's Member Testimonial from the Lindsay Group! "I just wanted to thank you and the Athens Area Chamber for establishing the Drugs Don’t Work Program. We are a Drug-Free workplace and one of the requirements is providing information to our employees on how drugs effect our lives as well as providing information on how to get assistance if needed. We were paying for this service and now the Chamber’s FREE program will save us even more, on top of the 7.5% we save by being a Drug-Free Workplace. The Chamber is not only saving us money, you are potentially saving lives!" - Tammy Lindsay, Lindsay Group 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 Send in a Testimonial

Special greetings to our new member of the week! Welcome!

Welcome to the AACOC, Athens - Ben Epps Airport! We are so happy to have you on board! Athens–Ben Epps Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport located three nautical miles east of the central business district of Athens. The airport is named after Ben T. Epps, the first aviator in the state of Georgia, who opened the airport in 1917. Learn more about our newest member below! Learn more

Welcome to the AACOC, Jackson & Brubaker Law PC! We are so happy to have you on board! A criminal charge can make you feel like your life is over. Jackson & Brubaker Law PC is here to tell you that it is not. You do not need to feel hopeless. When you turn to Jackson & Brubaker Law PC you will receive skilled legal guidance that will help to protect your future and your freedom. When you work with Jackson & Brubaker Law PC, they will explain the process every step of the way. They will hear your story, listen to your concerns and determine your goals. From there, they will develop a sound, skilled and aggressive legal strategy. Learn more about our newest member below! Learn more

Welcome to the AACOC, Bubolo Medical! We are so happy to have you on board! Bubolo's medical team consists of more than 30 professionals who are highly trained and qualified to serve your needs. They pride themselves on the success of their patients and guarantee that everyone will leave their office satisfied. Giving you an exceptional visit and the highest quality of care is always their main goal. Their services include medical weight loss, hair restoration, men's health, women's health, and more! Learn more about our newest member below! Learn more

Get Involved with Athens!

Franniversary is Here! Franny's Farmacy 1 year Anniversary benefiting Nuci's Space! Franny's Farmacy wants to extend an invitation for all of our Chamber Members to join them for COVID-19 safe live music, yoga, food trucks, and lots of free samples of CBD and hemp derived wellness products! Proceeds from this weekend are being donated to Nuci's Space to broaden awareness of mental health issues and prevent suicide. X3 Sports, Alumni Cookie Dough, Flicker Bar and Theater and other local businesses are joining Franny's Farmacy in celebrating bringing CBD and hemp to Athens. Check Franny's social media and website for more details. Most events will be happening at Franny's 2361 W. Broad St. in Athens from Friday March 19th to Sunday March 21st! Click below for more information! Learn more

American Red Cross: Volunteer Blood Donor Ambassadors Needed! Help save lives in the Athens community by becoming a Volunteer Blood Donor Ambassador with American Red Cross! Blood Donor Ambassadors assist with blood drives and enhance the overall blood donor experience. Read below for additional information: There is an increased need for Blood Donor Ambassadors (BDAs) due to the additional screening and sanitizing needs at all of our drives. The purpose of the role is to assist with temperature taking, registration and giving the donor a great experience at the blood drives in order to encourage future donations. Shifts are based on the individual’s availability and the scheduled drives in the area. Volunteers are able to self-schedule on-line with the request that they work at least 1 shift per month.   If interested, email below! Learn more

Ben & Jerry's Welcomes Back Old Company Under New Ownership! Ben & Jerry’s Athens is an independently owned and operated location! In honor of Black History Month and Women’s History Month, Ben & Jerry’s Athens wants to celebrate their diverse team! Not only are they a Black owned business, but they give 1 percent of revenue back to racial social and gender equity. If you want to request Ben & Jerry’s support at your nonprofit or university event you may contact them here. In honor of Women’s History Month Ben & Jerry’s Athens also wants to celebrate their regional manager Alexa Jett, who presides over two locations. Alexa is a young woman who is making great strides in the business community and also helping push their robust social mission platform forward. If you want to support a Black owned business that is giving back to the community, head to 105 College Avenue today! Click below to find out more! Learn more

Easter Drive-Thru Eggstravaganza brought to you by Macaroni Kid Athens! Athens Macaroni Kid is hosting an Easter Drive-Thru Eggstravaganza event on March 20th from 2:00pm-5:00pm! This will be located at the Village at Franklin Grove Parking Lot on 2971 Monroe Hwy, Bogart, GA 30622. About the Event: Hop in your car, bring your basket, and drive thru Franklin Grove's parking lot to receive eggs and goodies along the way from lots of local businesses!  Only one ticket per vehicle is needed!  Craft kits from Treehouse Kid & Craft included for every child The Easter Bunny and Characters from Enchanted Events Socially distanced photos Please note that you will not be able to exit your vehicle during this event. Masks are required. Athens Macaroni Kid is inviting local businesses to participate for free! If needed, they will also offer to help businesses purchase the items needed to participate. If you'd like to participate as a business click here! This is a great opportunity for families to enjoy something fun and safe while also supporting and highlighting our locally owned businesses! Click below for more information! Learn more

Clarke County School District and Envision Athens Present an Art Contest! Special announcement! Envision Athens (@envision_athens) is partnering with the Clarke County School District (@clarkecoschools) to host the Good Neighbor Art Contest!! If you're a 6th-12th grade student attending a Clarke County School District school, you're eligible to enter artwork, depicting someone (or a group) who represents the values of unity, equity, prosperity, and compassion as a Good Neighbor in our community. Learn more

Athens YMCA, Sally Sheppard and The Cottage: National Child Abuse Prevention Month is this coming April! April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Athens YMCA believes keeping our children safe is one of the most important things we can do as a community. They are using the month of April, Child Abuse Prevention Month, as a springboard to spread awareness about child abuse and how to prevent it in our communities. In doing so, Athens YMCA has teamed up with Sally Sheppard and The Cottage to offer 4 sessions on child abuse—an initiative called Pinwheels for Prevention. These 50-minute sessions range in topics and are open to the public at no cost. Sessions include: April 1st - 10am and 6pm April 13th - 10am and 6pm April 20th - 10am and 6pm April 27th - 10am and 6pm To sign up for a session, use this link. Click below for more information on each session! Learn more

Announcements

Have you gotten your College Factory Gear? College Factory has extended their sale until the end of this week! College Factory is a non-profit organization with the mission of empowering youth in the Athens community to achieve their post-secondary goals. College Factory believes every child should have the chance to maximize their educational opportunities.  They provide high school students with free personalized college coaching and low-cost test prep courses. They also host free college planning workshops to help families make informed choices about their options. In the past year, College Factory has served over 120 local students. Your purchase of a College Factory t-shirt will be an investment in the next generation of leaders and innovators in the Athens community.   Learn more at www.collegefactory.org or click below! Learn more

Brightpaths: Starry Starry Night Virtual Auction! Join Brightpaths in the effort to prevent child abuse and neglect of all kinds in Athens, Oconee and the surrounding areas by participating in the upcoming Starry Starry Night Virtual Auction! The auction takes place at events.handbid.com March 25-28. Follow Brightpaths on social media for more information and sneak peaks at auction items such as a Matt Ryan signed jersey, Mexican vacation package, amazing art, and goods and services from some of your favorite local businesses! Together we can give the children in our community safe and healthy childhoods.  Click below for more information! Learn more

Join American Pest Control in Pancakes for Paws! On Saturday, March 20th from 9AM to 12PM, American Pest Control will be hosting Pancakes for Paws, an adoption event, on 3145 Atlanta Highway! During this event, there will be pancakes, coffee, and puppucinos as well as adorable, adoptable pets, a kid's table, and a silent auction! This event is part of their Operation. 50/50 Campaign which launched on their 49th anniversary. This community and customer-oriented campaign will extend throughout the entire year, culminating in a celebration of their 50th year. Throughout 2021, the company will invite employees, customers, and community members to join them in fundraisers, service projects, and giveaways designed to thank the communities that have allowed them to thrive for nearly half a century. If you would like to donate new or gently used pet items, or would like to donate to the silent auction, contact thebuzz@ampest.com Click below for more information! Learn more

The Red & Black wants your feedback! What news matters to you? What issues do you care about ? What do you want in a news app? The Red & Black has covered UGA and Athens since 1893 and is always looking for better ways to serve readers. Take the 60-second survey to provide your input. (Plus: Everyone who answers is entered in a drawing for a $100 gift card). Click below to take the survey! Learn more

Join the St. Joseph Catholic Parish School for the 22nd Annual St. Joe's Jog 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run! Join St. Joseph Catholic Parish School for their 22nd Annual St. Joe’s Jog 5K and 1 mile fun run​ (Virtual Race) using www.active.com! To participate, you will be asked to run 3.1 miles any day between Friday, March 19th and Saturday, March 27th at Noon. Submit your finish time using link: http://tiny.cc/21StJoesJog5KTimes Finish times submitted after Noon on March 27th will not be included in the results. Registration for thus event has been extended until Friday, March 12th! All participants will receive a finisher medal and t-shirt! To learn more, click below! Learn more

Thank you to all of our 2021 Chamber Champions!

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