Business & Economy
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economic development

Athens Area Chamber of Commerce
The mission of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce is to develop an environment conducive to business by fostering economic development and promoting local business to help the Athens community grow and prosper. Their website offers a business directory, economic development information, and resources for visitors and residents of Athens.

ACC Economic Development Department
The mission of the Economic Development Department is to attract, retain, and grow businesses and jobs in Athens-Clarke County.

ACC Department of Housing & Community Development
Strives to improve and develop viable neighborhoods by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities for low-to-moderate income families. Helps overcome barriers to full-time regular employment and encourages the establishment and growth of local businesses in order to encourage job creation.

Athens Downtown Development Authority
Acts a as liaison between government and the downtown business community to promote and enhance a safe and economically viable central business district.

Athens Area Community Foundation
A public grantmaking foundation that partners with donors, nonprofits, and community institutions to build and distribute philanthropic assets that will enhance quality of life in the Athens area. Seeks to turn donors' charitable goals into permanent legacies, to invest in our community through strategic grantmaking, and to lead our community to a better future.

Better Business Bureau
Serving metro Atlanta, Athens, and Northeast Georgia by fostering fair and honest relationships between businesses and consumers, instilling consumer confidence, and contributing to an ethical business environment.

East Athens Development Corporation
A nonprofit community based development organization working to facilitate the economic empowerment of East Athens residents, and development and revitalization of the East Athens Community.

Economic Justice Coalition
Promotes a vision for economic fairness by advocating for fair living wages and health benefits, quality jobs for low wage workers, corporate responsibility and accountability, and the rights of workers to organize.

Hancock Community Development Corporation
HCDC's mission is to provide leadership, linkage, and support to the community to increase economic opportunity. Their services foster and sustain community development, generate community based partnerships, and help to empower and revitalize the Hancock Corridor.

Northeast Georgia Regional Commission
NEGRC serves 12 counties in the Northeast Georgia region for regional issues concerning local government such as economic development, grant preparation and administration, job training, planning, and aging services.

Small Business Development Center - Athens Office
Enhances the economic well-being of Georgians by providing a wide range of business consulting, training, and educational services for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Small Biz Athens
Designed to be a hub for small businesses, with useful links, guides, and information. Serves as a resource for the small business community and helps entrepreneurs start and grow businesses in the Athens area.

Four Athens Tech Incubator
Four Athens exists to support the startup community. Four Athens was formed to discover startups, build community, connect creativity, accelerate growth and invest in success.

industry & trade organizations

Athens Apartment Association
A local chapter of the Georgia Apartment Association and the National Apartment Association. Provides education courses and legal support and keeps its members abreast of issues that arise in the apartment industry.

Athens Area Association of Realtors
Provides its members with services, programs, and education which advocate private property rights, professionalism, and ethical real estate practices while promoting a positive realtor image in the community.

Athens Area Council of Real Estate Appraisers
An organization of appraisers in the Athens-Clarke County area who have joined together to promote good business ethics and higher educational standards for the real estate appraisal profession.

Athens Area Home Builders Association
A trade association representing the building industry in Clarke, Oconee, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties. Strives to create a favorable climate for quality, affordable construction to assure a positive economic future for the community.

Athens Society for Human Resource Management
A non-profit society of human resource professionals representing business, government, and education.

Athens BNI
Athens BNI (Business Networking International) is a group of businesses in the Athens area who meet weekly to help one another grow their businesses through referrals and networking.

businesses

Major Employers in Athens
A list of the largest employers in Athens-Clarke County provided by ACC Economic Development Department.

Chamber of Commerce Business Directory
A directory of member businesses belonging to the Athens Area Chamber.

Manufacturers Directory
A list of manufacturing firms in the Athens area provided by the ACC Economic Development Department.

Manufacturers Located in Clarke County
View an alphabetical list of manufacturers in Athens provided by the Georgia Department of Economic Development, or use this search tool to search for Athens-based manufacturers by name, product category, etc.

Shopping
Check this shopping guide provided by the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau to get a taste of Athens' unique flavor in distinctive local shops.

Downtown Businesses
A listing of businesses and offices in the downtown Athens area.

Bottleworks
A historic mixed-use development in the Prince Avenue Corridor featuring restaurant & entertainment venues, retail, and office spaces.

Normaltown
Explore the businesses of the Normaltown area of Athens including food, drinks, shops, and services.

Broad 9A
A creative and small business collective in the Chase Park Warehouses.

Georgia Square Mall
Features four department stores and over 100 shops.

Athens Made
An online guide to vibrant, innovative companies that call Athens, Georgia home and that contribute to jobs, stability, and a growing local economy.

The Local Notion
A program dedicated to supporting independent, locally owned businesses in the Athens, Georgia area. The Local Notion Card provides incentives and rewards to cardholders who shop at local participating businesses.

Connect2Athens Business Directory
A local online directory of Athens area businesses and organizations.

YellowPageCity
An online yellow pages service for Athens GA.

economic statistics

Athens, GA Economy at a Glance
Bureau of Labor Statistics data on labor force and employment in Athens.

Clarke County Labor Profile
Data on the labor force, employment, local industry, commuting patterns, and wages of workers.

American Community Survey: Clarke County

An ongoing survey conducted every year by the U.S. Census Bureau that provides current statistics giving communities the latest information.

BEARFACTS Reports

BEA Regional Fact Sheets describe local personal income in comparison to state and national levels. Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Estimates of the numbers of persons employed in over 200 different occupations in Athens-Clarke County, along with information on hourly & annual wages.

Employment Analysis
Tables and charts showing changes in employment trends in Clarke County from 1990 to 2014.

Employment Projections and Workforce Trends
Forecasts for the 12 counties of northeast Georgia in and around the city of Athens.

Industry Mix
Annual figures 2000-2014 for industries in Clarke County. Provides data on number of businesses, number of employees, and wages.

Business Patterns Databases
Data on area business establishments, employment, and payroll. View by county, metro area, or zip code. Provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Economic Census

Provides detailed data about the local economy.

The Georgia Statistics System
This online version of the Georgia County Guide provides extensive data about the economy of Clarke County. Examples include: per capita income, unemployment, retail sales, lottery sales, property taxes, and more.

Housing Units Authorized by Building Permits
Data on single-unit and multi-unit housing construction in Athens by month or year, 1985-present. From the Selig Center for Economic Growth.

United States Historical Census Browser
Historical demographic, economic, and social data for each state and county from 1790 to 1960. Economic data include statistics on manufacturing, agriculture, occupations, etc. Types of data available vary from decade to decade.

studies

Poverty in Athens
A report by Partners for A Prosperous Athens on poverty and the Athens-Clarke County economy.

Economic Impact of the University of Georgia on the Athens Area
A report from the Selig Center for Economic Growth.

Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation in Athens
A study conducted by the Athens-Clarke County Planning Department.