July 2016 Features

  • Introducing ACC’s Business Retention + Expansion Program Version 2.0

    July 25, 2016

    Attracting a new company to a community has long been a staple of economic development efforts. Nothing looks quite as good in the paper as lines of public officials in hard hats holding shovels or bright red ribbons being cut by ridiculously large scissors. When a new firm chooses your town, it’s big news.

  • 20 Tips on Public Speaking

    July 22, 2016

    Everybody’s scared of something. It doesn’t matter how big or brave you may feel — there’s definitely a deeply-embedded, irrational anxiety in there. Statistically, one of those anxieties probably centers on public speaking. Fortunately, there are plenty of tricks you can try in order to calm your nerves and deliver an effective speech.

  • MillerCoors Takes Majority Stake in Athen's Terrapin Beer

    July 21, 2016

    Tenth and Blake Beer Company, the craft and import division of MillerCoors, announced an agreement to acquire a majority interest in Athens, Georgia-based Terrapin Beer Company. Tenth and Blake had previously purchased a minority interest in Terrapin in early 2012.

  • University of Georgia Offers Accelerated JD and MBA Program 

    July 20, 2016

    To help meet the growing demand for lawyers with business acumen, the University of Georgia now provides an opportunity for students to graduate with both a law degree (JD) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in only three years.

  • Idea Accelerator Returns to UGA for Another Round This Fall

    July 18, 2016

    Applications are now open for the next round of teams to be selected for the UGA Idea Accelerator program this Fall. Sponsored by local economic development nonprofit Four Athens, in partnership with the Advanced Technology Development Center the UGA Entrepreneurship Program, and THINC, the Idea Accelerator chooses a cohort of promising business concepts to be put to the test each semester.

  • Hyatt Place Connected to The Classic Center Scheduled to Open in Athens Georgia Next Spring

    July 14, 2016

    Athens, Georgia, is set to add 192 hotel rooms connected to The Classic Center, the downtown’s convention and performing arts space, with the opening of a Hyatt Place in spring 2017. The new hotel will be the first connected property to The Classic Center and bring the total number of rooms within one mile radius of this major convention center to over 1,400 rooms. The property is being developed by HP Athens. Southern Hospitality Group has been selected as the management company.

  • UGA Moves Up to No. 17 on Forbes List of Top 25 Public U.S. Colleges

    July 11, 2016

    The University of Georgia moved up one spot to rank No. 17 on the Forbes “Top 25 Public Colleges 2016” list released this week.

  • Athens-based Your Pie Marks Mid-Year Point with 49 New Stores in Development; 8.86% Same-Store Sales Increase

    July 08, 2016

    Since its inception in 2008, Your Pie has prided itself on being the original down-the-line brick oven pizza concept. As the brand closes out its second quarter, they’re reveling in a same-store sales increase of nearly 9 percent over last year.

  • Pinnacle Financial Corporation to Acquire Independence Bank of Georgia

    July 07, 2016

    Pinnacle Financial Corporation, the parent holding company of Pinnacle Bank, and Independence Bank of Georgia, jointly announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Pinnacle will acquire Independence in a 100% cash transaction valued at approximately $32.8 million.

  • Athens-Clarke County’s 3rd Annual Industry Appreciation Dinner

    July 06, 2016

    Athens-Clarke County’s 3rd Annual Industry Appreciation Dinner was held on April 18, 2016 to celebrate the contributions that local manufacturers make to the Athens community. The event was attended by over 80 guests, including local, state and national elected officials, community leaders and the captains of industry throughout Athens.