Page 30 - Athens New Comers Guide 2020

Eaton Manufacturing

Economic

Development

Area sees continued growth despite pandemic.

locations, but also it is well positioned
to attract talent. It was named among
and dedication of business owners, the “Top 100 Best Places to Live 2020”
A s with the rest of the world enterprising students. Located in the (#32 nationally, #1 in Georgia) by
startup founders, plant managers, and
Livability.com, the “South’s Best College
top state for doing business for seven
in 2020, Athens’ businesses
were negatively impacted
2020, and one of the “Great Places to
by the coronavirus pandemic. The consecutive years (Area Development Town” by Southern Living, March
magazine), Athens blends its low
good news is that the region quickly cost of doing business with state-of- Follow Your Passions in Retirement
rebounded and is poised to surge the-art infrastructure and a talented 2019” by Forbes, August 27, 2019. From
ahead in 2021 as the pandemic is workforce to create the perfect biotechnology and pharmaceuticals,
brought under control and vaccines
are distributed.
Athens is widely recognized as a creative,
The Athens area’s unemployment rate
in 2019 was a low 3.5 percent. For inspirational, and innovative community, home not
2020, the number rose to 4.8 percent, only to a thriving entertainment scene but also to a
an annual increase of only 1.3 points,
which even encompasses the double- hugely successful base of manufacturing companies.
digit spikes in April during the global
lockdowns. What this means is that
most Athens businesses are hanging environment for business success. plastics and polymers, craft brewing
on, even prospering, and the future Companies of all sizes have been and beverages, and advanced and
looks bright.
choosing Athens-Clarke County for precision manufacturers, companies
Athens continues to be home to many years. As the eastern anchor benefit from Athens’ central location
Fortune 500 companies and dynamic of Georgia’s Innovation Crescent, not and workforce, which give local firms
entrepreneurship opportunities that only is Athens nestled in one of the an advantage over competitors in
are enhanced daily by the innovation nation’s most economically vibrant other areas.

26 Economic Development Athens Area Chamber of Commerce • www.athensga.com • (706) 549-6800