Athens-Clarke County Economic Development

The Athens-Clarke County (ACCGov) Economic Development Department and the North Avenue Tax Allocation District (TAD) Advisory Committee will host two open house sessions and an online survey during November for residents to provide input on items they would like to see constructed within the TAD boundaries.

The open house sessions will take place on the following dates and times:
- Thursday, November 6 from 6:00–8:00 PM at the Joel E. Smilow Boys & Girls Club (705 Fourth Street)
- Wednesday, November 12 from 6:00–8:00 PM at Athens-Clarke County Probation (110 Bray Street)

Residents can drop in anytime during the sessions to learn more about the TAD process and provide input on ideas for community improvements. Light refreshments will be provided.

An online survey will be available at www.accgov.com/tads through November 30 for those who cannot attend the sessions. Additional outreach will also take place in the North Avenue area with organizations, businesses, and residents. The webpage also includes links to other TAD information, including a map of the North Avenue TAD area and the TAD redevelopment plan.

A Tax Allocation District (TAD) is a redevelopment tool that uses the increased property taxes generated by new development in a designated area to finance costs related to development. These costs might include, but are not limited to, public infrastructure, demolition, utilities, and planning costs.

On November 10, 2020, the Mayor & Commission adopted redevelopment plans to establish six tax allocation districts across Athens-Clarke County. Additional information about all six TADS, including maps, is also available at www.accgov.com/tads.

The North Avenue TAD consists of 68 property parcels totaling 139.6 acres, with the Loop 10 as the northern boundary, Fourth Street as the eastern boundary, Evelyn C. Neely Drive as the southern boundary, and North Avenue as the western boundary. It includes a significant amount of government-owned property and captures a portion of east Athens between downtown and Loop 10.

For more information about the North Avenue TAD public input, visit www.accgov.com/tads or contact Daniel Young with the ACCGov Economic Development Department at [email protected].

Economic Development has a new office!

On Thursday, August 3, 2023, Governor Brian Kemp announced that Duckshin Housing, a construction materials manufacturer, will create 100 new jobs and invest more than $15 million in Athens-Clarke County through its first U.S. facility.

“Since 2019, we have announced more than 3,400 new jobs and $903 million in investments in Athens-Clarke County, thanks to the dedication of our local partners and hardworking economic developers," said Governor Brian Kemp. "We're proud to welcome Duckshin Housing as the latest job creator in this growing list as we continue to bring opportunity to all parts of the state."

Established in 1980, Duckshin Housing is headquartered in Seoul, Korea. The company produces architectural deck plates and frames. Duckshin’s deck plates are made of galvanized steel and rebars and designed for efficient production to be cost effective, and with enhanced safety in mind.

Duckshin’s new facility will be located on Olympic Drive at the Athena Industrial Park, and construction is expected to begin later this year. When open, Duckshin will be hiring for welder, machine operator, forklift driver, and other operations positions. Job postings will be made to the company’s website when available, and Duckshin plans to work with local employment services as well.

Read more: accgov.com/news