Business After Hours is BACK! |
Join us for Business After Hours at Lumberjaxe on Thursday, February 18th at 5:00pm to see your old chamber pals and to throw some axes! We are limiting the number of attendees to 40 so be sure to register today. Masks will be required upon entry.
Invite a friend to join you! We can't wait to see you soon!
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Something big is coming soon....
Annual Meeting!
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Join us for our 117th Annual Meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 25th at 11:30am! This virtual production will be just as exciting as in years past and will be free for our members and the entire community!
At the event, we will:
- Celebrate a year of unprecedented change
- Briefly discuss the re-organized Chamber of 2021
- Honor award recipients of the:
- Small Business of the Year
- Spirit of Athens Award
- Upshaw Bentley Citizen of the Year
- ATHENA Award
We will also have special guests that will be dropping in for words of wisdom, encouragement and hope!
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Our goal is to celebrate this extraordinary community, the people that have worked so hard to make a dynamic difference and to find HOPE in a sometimes dark world. Join us for this 60 minute production! You don't want to miss this!
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We present the Upshaw Bentley Citizen of the Year Award Nominees! |
The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce annually recognizes a small business for extraordinary success within the company and the community.
Meet our Upshaw Bentley Citizen of the Year Award Nominees:
The winner will be announced at the Upcoming Annual Meeting!
Learn more below!
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You Don't Want to Miss This! |
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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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Envision Athens: The Year of the Good Neighbor |
Join Envision Athens in inspiring locals to commit to pursuing unity, equity, prosperity, and compassion in the new year. Envision Athens is a movement, inviting all people in our community to unify Athens Clarke-County around a common vision, and we're declaring 2021 the Year of the Good Neighbor! The goal of this year-long campaign is to inspire all Athenians to be Good Neighbors, united under one vision to better our community’s future through our four core values— unity, equity, prosperity and compassion. Throughout each month of 2021, Envision Athens will focus on one community element including education, health, environment, small business, nonprofits, and several others.
Click below to learn more!
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Join the Athens Wish Celebration! |
Right now, there are over 50 children in the Athens community waiting for their wish to come true - Beckam is one of them.
With your help, Make-A-Wish hopes to create a magical surprise for Beckam while he waits for his wish. He’s been in recovery the past seven months from back fusion surgery and the pandemic has made him wait even longer for his wish. He deserves HOPE and the Athens community can help us bring it to him right now.
Together, we will raise vital funds for future wishes while celebrating Beckam. This socially distant family-friendly event and car parade is powered by wish families, volunteers, companies, donors and friends.
Click below to learn more!
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2021 Athens Wish Celebration
Loganville High School (100 Trident Trail Loganville, GA 30052)
March 28, 2021
Start: 1:00 PM - meet in the school parking lot for a socially distant car decorating party while enjoying food, contests and tunes!
Parade: 2:30 PM
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Register. Sign up today and invite friends, family and colleagues to join your team or create their own.
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Fundraise. Tell people why you are supporting Make-A-Wish and ask for their support. Together, we will raise vital funds for future wishes while celebrating Beckam.
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Car Parade. See the Make-A-Wish mission come to life, decorate your car, celebrate your fundraising success and HOPE to Beckam!
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Coldwell Banker Commercial Upchurch Realty's Jonathan B Hogan appointed to the 2021 Athens Association of Realtors® Commercial Land Forum Chairman! |
Coldwell Banker Commercial Upchurch Realty’s Jonathan B. Hogan is appointed the 2021 Athens Area Association of REALTORS® (AAAR) Commercial Land Forum Chairman. Hogan will remain in this role for the remainder of this year. As Chairman, he will be responsible for creating an agenda of monthly meetings and coordinating guest speakers, who will each present insight on various industry topics and concepts.
The Athens Area Association of REALTORS® was founded as an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and Georgia Association of REALTORS® (GAR). This local board is comprised of REALTORS® in the Greater Athens area and serves as a governing power for educational and professional development, community outreach, industry standards and updates, member advocacy, and so much more.
To read more, click below!
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Extended by popular demand: Athens on Ice is here through February 15! |
Athens on Ice, presented by Akins Ford, is extending to February 15 due to popular demand! That means there's still time to make it out to Athens' favorite outdoor activity in the 440 Foundry Pavilion at The Classic Center. With mobile tickets, limited capacities, and extra sanitation measures, you can relax and enjoy! Space for each session is limited, so buy your tickets ahead of time to save your spot on the rink. Skate sessions are 75 minutes of fun at only $15 per ticket. Groups of ten or more are eligible for $12 tickets. |
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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
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Scott Sheppard, lead pastor of Cornerstone Church, talks about what he loves about being a Chamber member and hopes Athens can achieve in the future!
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 member of the week! Welcome! |
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Welcome to the AACOC, Athens Area Humane Society! We are so happy to have you on board! |
The Athens Area Humane Society is a donor-supported no-kill, nonprofit organization dedicated to lowering area euthanasia rates through rescue, adoption, spay/neuter, education, and pet retention programs.
Learn more about our newest member below!
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Get Involved with Athens! |
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Creature Comforts: Get Comfortable - Addressing 2021's greatest needs |
What is Get Comfortable 101?
Get Comfortable aids in greater communication, stronger partnerships, fewer silos, less replication, and the concentration of funding around our community’s most pressing needs. While there are many worthy causes in our community, discomfort emerges whenever any need goes unmet. But rather than tether our corporate giving to a specific charity, Get Comfortable channels the generosity of many toward our city’s greatest needs. It is seldom that the public, private, and nonprofit sectors come together, compare notes, and execute a unified strategy. But we need one another: we need both the guidance of local leadership and generous businesses to propel social innovation. So, Get Comfortable with Creature Comforts by learning more below!
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How can you get involved in Get Comfortable?
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Join Get Comfortable here.
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Willson Center + Sierra Nevada Event: Wednesday, February 3rd: Join Creature Comforts for a special event hosted by UGA's Willson Center titled “Conversations on Diversity, Community, and Sustainability: Sierra Nevada, Creature Comforts and the commitment to do good, better.” In the meantime, you can read about the 2021 Sierra Nevada collaboration by clicking here.
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Get Comfortable Launch: Wednesday, February 10th at 4:00 pm: Grab your computer and your favorite Creature Comforts beer as Creature celebrates the start of another fundraising season! Additionally, you'll hear from the brew masters at Creature Comforts and Sierra Nevada about this year's collaborative Hazy Double IPA. Click here for the Zoom link.
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Click here for an informational video
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United Way of Northeast Georgia: National 211 Day! |
211 is a vital program for our region! This February 11, also known as National 211 Day, is a perfect time to share the benefits of United Way's health and human services information and referral program with your colleagues, neighbors, friends and family.
Challenges exist for everyone – and sometimes getting help can feel hard. United Way of Northeast Georgia’s 211 program makes it possible for everyone in the region to get connected with local resources to meet the needs of everyone. On Feb. 11, join United Way of Northeast Georgia in celebrating National 211 Day by telling your story of getting help through 211 or how you share 211 with others – by handing out cards, putting a poster in your storefront, or more – via your social channels. Post your stories and tag @unitedwaynega on Instagram or Facebook and let us know how 211 matters in your life!
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ESP: Big Hearts is less than a month away! |
Each year, ESP brings together members of the community with the children and families it serves for one special night: Big Hearts. It’s an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the abilities of some of our community’s most big-hearted individuals, while leaving their disabilities in the wings. This year for Big Hearts, there will many opportunities to provide your support for ESP families including the 2021 Kia Telluride Raffle Entry, a Host at Home Watch Box Preorder, Big Hearts Watch Box Preorder, among other great items!
Click below to learn more!
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The Culinary Kitchen of Athens: The Winter Community Market 2021 is Finally Here! |
Don't let the cold weather keep you away! Winter Community Market 2021 has gathered your favorite local shops and makers together so you can purchase goods during the winter season!
The Winter Community Market will be held every Saturday, January 9th to March 13th from 11:00 am-2:00 pm. It will be held at Hendershot’s Coffee located on 237 Prince Ave, Athens, GA 30601.
To apply as a vendor or to learn more about the event, visit the website below!
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Farm to Neighborhood is Back! |
After keeping everyone safe during the Holiday Season, Farm to Neighborhood is back! Ordering is available each Thursday! In addition, Rashe's Cuisine Restaurant opened back as well on January 27th, and will remain open from Wednesday to Friday from 11am-6pm!
Order from Farm to Neighborhood below!
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Join the Love Athens Hard Campaign! |
In an effort to support healthcare workers in our community, Tribe Hair Company has created the Love Athens Hard campaign and would love for your business to be involved! At the start of the pandemic, nurses received tons of donations to help make their days a little brighter during difficult times.
As the pandemic has progressed, those donations have decreased, but the burden on health care workers has not. If your business is willing to give resources/small donations (cards, gift baskets, snacks, etc), please reach out to Tribe Hair Company at tribehaircompany@gmail.comor message Tribe Hair Company on social and they will sign you up for a specific drop-off date.
Let's come together to support our community healthcare workers!
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Global Escapes: Escape Plans - a Virtual Event with Blu Cove Greece |
Ready to start planning a trip after such a crazy year? Blu Cove Greece is the on-location partner Global Escapes has chosen to provide VIP-level ground services in Greece for their valued clients! Upon arrival, Blue Cove Greece in partnership with Global Escapes will discreetly shadow you every step of the way, ensuring timely transfers, expert guides, luxury accommodations, exciting day cruises, dining reservations and concierge services are delivered in a seamless manner throughout your journey. Greece is our back yard and the goal is to have you experience!
Learn more below!
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UGA Innovation District is Bringing Back their Startup 101 Series! |
Kicking off their Spring semester programming, the UGA Innovation Hub will be bringing back the Startup 101 series, with new and relevant topics for pandemic times.
About this Event
Listen to Tim Martin and Cory Acuff discuss the new Georgia Startup License, an express licensing program for startups using UGA IP. They will also have Kevin Goodman, Director of Product Management, Amazon Web Services, talking about Capital Raise 101!
This event will be held on Friday, February 5th at 11:00am!
Click below for more information!
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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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UNG Oconee Blood Drive is Here! |
The UNG Oconee Blood Drive will be hosted on February 4th, from 9:00am-5:00pm at 1201 Bishop Farms Parkway in Watkinsville, Georgia! By donating your blood, you can help to save local lives in our community!
Click below for more information and to register for a time slot!
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W&A Engineering Partners with Hendershots Coffee and Heart Music Athens! |
W&A Engineering is pleased to extend the Building Better Communities Local Business Partnership program into the month of January! All this week, you can help support a local charity by dining local at Hendershots, located in Bottleworks on Prince Avenue. W&A Engineering will match their first $500 in sales with a donation to Heart Music Athens, a local nonprofit supporting music education. Help support our local community by stopping by Hendershots! |
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ByoPlanet International has its Official Grand Opening! |
On January 19th, 2021 ByoPlanet International held its grand opening and official ribbon cutting ceremony for its new facility in Athens, GA.
Due to the recent Covid-19 pandemic and the need for electrostatic disinfection technology, ByoPlanet has grown tremendously. To accommodate the surge in demand, ByoPlanet moved into the Classic Center in Downtown Athens in March of 2020 to utilize the space that would have been otherwise empty due to the pandemic. ByoPlanet also employed many of the Classic Center employees that would otherwise have been furloughed. Since early March 2020, ByoPlanet has created over 120 jobs in Athens Georgia, and is expecting to add between 30-50 additional assembly, test, and engineering positions by the end of 2021. ByoPlanet International hosted Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp, the Mayor of Athens Kelly Girtz, Georgia Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson as well as Senator Frank Ginn for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Read more about the entirety of the event below!
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Get Your Bachelor's Degree in Business with Piedmont College! |
Are you interested in earning your degree in Business while taking evening classes?
Come zoom with Dr. Margaret Ryder and Michelle Leach from Piedmont College about earning your bachelor’s degree at Piedmont College!
Click below to register for a session that works best for you.
Register Here:
Click the below for more information!
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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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