The Annual Meeting updates our membership and community with a highlight of the Chamber's previous year as well as an update on the programs and plans set for the upcoming year. The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce has hosted the Annual Meeting for over 100 years as an opportunity to honor businesses and community members, enjoy networking and fellowship, and share progress and goals with our membership. This year's meeting will take place at the new Akins Ford Arena!

The 121st Annual Meeting, "There's No Place Like Athens", will take place on Tuesday, February 18th, and the 2025 Small Business of the Year Award, 2025 Spirit of Athens Award, and Upshaw Bentley Citizen of the Year Award will be presented. Please consider submitting a nomination:

Athens Chamber Announces Partnership with YPN

The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and the Athens Young Professionals Network are thrilled to announce a new partnership to enhance opportunities, resources, and support for members of both organizations. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to catalyzing prosperity through commerce in the Athens area.

Athens to Host Young Gamechangers in 2025

GeorgiaForward’s Young Gamechangers is a unique and proven leadership action program that gathers 45 of Georgia’s brightest young minds to develop creative and viable recommendations for one community.

We are thrilled to announce that Athens has been selected as the 2025 host city for Young Gamechangers. 15 participants between ages 25-40 will be selected from the Athens area along with 15 from the Atlanta area and 15 from rural Georgia. Class participants tackle real community and economic development issues with colleagues from across the state, building up civic engagement tools like collaboration, compromise, and negotiation.

Learn more about the program and eligibility requirements here.

Please join The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce for a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the opening of the brand new Athens Church campus at Beechwood.  This new campus allows Athens Church to move deeper into the heart of the city and makes it more accessible to people in town.  

Date and Time

Wednesday, Dec 5, 2024

10:00 AM

Please join the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce as we celebrate the Ribbon Cutting for The Cancer Foundation, a local non-profit whose mission is to help alleviate the financial burden of cancer for patients” throughout Northeast Georgia.

Date and Time

Thursday, Dec 5, 2024

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST

Ribbon Cutting at 3:00

Date and Time

Friday, Dec 6, 2024

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM EST

Ribbon Cutting at 4:45

Please join The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce as we celebrate the Ribbon Cutting for our very own Athens Rock Lobsters. It's opening weekend for Crustacean Nation! Come join the Athens Rock Lobsters for their ribbon cutting and first-ever home game in Akins Ford Arena! The party will begin at 4:00 with the ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:45, followed by the Rock Lobsters Red Carpet Walkout. Stick around to cheer on the players as they walk through in their game-day suits. There will be live music, games, Rock Lobsters merch, food and drinks! Bring all of your friends and family, enjoy the inaugural game ribbon cutting, and stay to watch the Rock Lobsters take on the Blue Ridge Bobcats. Arena doors open at 6pm. CLAWS UP!

This special Network Lunch will provide an opportunity to mix and mingle with our Leads Group members and learn more about joining a network of trusted referral partners!

Date and Time

Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM EST

Location

Hope Haven

795 Newton Bridge Rd. Athens GA 30607

Business After Hours is a drop-in style event designed for networking and getting to know members of the business community. Bring plenty of business cards to exchange!

Date and Time

Thursday, Dec 12, 2024

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM EST

Location

Many thanks to our host and sponsor, Synovus,  for planning a special evening at their downtown location on 150 W. Hancock Ave. Athens GA 30601.

Join us at Taylor-Grady House, where the past and present come together in a spirit of unity and celebration. We warmly welcome all to participate in our community events and educational programs, ensuring that everyone can connect with history in a meaningful way.

Athens, Georgia, has always been a haven for artists—a town that thrives on creativity and community. Here, art isn't just made; it's shared, celebrated, and embraced by all. When you host a festival in Athens, there's an unspoken rule: everyone is invited. Doors must be open wide, welcoming every voice, every story, every perspective. The Athens Film Festival stays in lane, marrying our city's love for the arts with the splendor of cinema. We're not just screening films; we're building bridges—connecting filmmakers and cinephiles, locals and visitors, dreamers and doers. Whether you're behind the camera or sitting in the audience, this festival is for you.

Because in Athens, art belongs to everyone—and film is no exception.

From the trendiest pieces to everyday basics, Swank has it all! Our affordable women’s clothing makes it easy for you to take your style to a whole new level. We are your go-to, always-reliable boutique where you can find clothing, shoes, accessories, and gifts. At Swank, we value our customers over everything else — because of that, we offer your favorite styles at prices that you can afford.

On October 29th, the United States Chamber of Commerce announced Creature Comforts as a winner of the 25th Annual Citizens Awards in Washington D.C.—a long-standing program honoring companies nationwide for their leadership in solving the world’s biggest challenges. They were awarded the Best Community Improvement Program—alongside other finalists, including Johnson Outdoors and the PNC Financial Services Group—for the development of an innovative early literacy intervention via Get Comfortable.

St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary invites everyone to the annual lighting of St. Mary’s Love Lights Tree on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 4 p.m. in the hospital’s atrium lobby, 1230 Baxter St., Athens.

The celebration will include a sing-along led by the Saint Joseph Catholic Church Children’s Choir, refreshments, a short presentation and a visit from Santa. Children are invited and photos with Santa will be welcome; bring your camera or smartphone.

Proceeds from the year-long Love Lights campaign will go to support St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary’s mission to augment and elevate the care provided by the hospital and its related services, such as palliative care and hospice.

The Winterville Cultural Center and Marigold Auditorium are spreading cheer to our Chamber members! If you would like FREE tickets to this event, please email wintervillecampus@gmail.com. We will add you to the guest list - limit of 4 per chamber member.

Live Wire Athens and the Robertson Family are excited to host the 2024 SEC

Championship Watch Party on Saturday December 7th.

FEEL LIKE YOU'RE AT THE GAME!

Featuring: a 15 ft. cinema size screen, 3 additional screens, professional audio, a FULL BAR, Corn hole, and other games for the kids. FREE Admission for all ages (limited seating available) Doors open to the public at 3pm. UGA VS TEXAS Kick-off at 4 pm. Reserve a Table in Robertson Hall in front of our 15' Cinema screen. $20 per table (seats 1-10, very limited)

BYOD- (Bring your own dinner) Live Wire Athens does NOT serve food. We encourage our guests to reserve a table for the game and order food from one of the MANY locally owned restaurants nearby. Rest assured, your table is secured FOR THE ENTIRE DAY! (Subject to availability. First purchased, first served.)

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! Live Wire Athens is ALL AGES.

No purchase necessary to attend this event. Live Wire Athens reserves tables for guests who purchase a reservation, however, there is also standing room in our Parlor and Robertson Hall. GO DAWGS!

The Red & Black: Strengthening Athens & UGA with Trusted, Quality Journalism

Our goal is to raise $10,000 in community matching funds by December 31. Your investment will help us achieve our year-end campaign goal and fund our student stipends and reporting opportunities. 

Cookies with Santa

Bring the kiddos to Lexington Vintage on December 14th from 1-3 for a low-stress photo op with Santa! Milk and cookies provided.

Date and Time

Saturday, Dec 14, 2024

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST

Location

1743 Lexington Rd Athens GA 30605