Friendly City Focus

The City conducted a strategic plan with Barth Associates to identify the key areas of progress for our thriving rural community for the next century to come. The City of Athens has identified the top ten initiatives to make a priority over the next century.

Animal Shelter

Training Facilities

Building Renovations

Masterplan for wayfinding and signage

Building & staffing a 3rd Fire Station & training facility

Design and build pickleball complex at Ingleside Recreation Complex

Prepare adaptive re-use study for existing school sites

Complete Market Park development

Complete downtown plan as proposed

Realize tou et Together

The Friendly City is Flourishing

New businesses and homes have arrived and are building in Athens A few new assets to the city include the McMinn Higher Education Center and the new Athens City School building are huge enhancements for the community.

McMinn Higher Education Center, aka MHEC, houses Cleveland State Community College, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, and the University of Tennessee Extension Institute of Agriculture- McMinn County. In addition to these educational institutes, local industries can utilize this space for training to upgrade the existing workforce.

The Athens City School is completing a major revamp of the Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade schools. What once was 4 schools, 2 housing Pre-K to 2nd grade and 2 housing 3rd to 5th grades will now be in one extraordinary school. The new school is located right next to the Athens City Middle School campus and City Schools office.

The Arts Center in Athens, the cultural hub of the city, is building on its capital campaign adding an additional theatre, music training rooms, and adding additional class offerings.

United Way of McMinn & Meigs Counties

Since 1957, United Way of McMinn & Meigs Counties have invested more than $25 million back into the community. United Way has partner agencies within the community to help those in need with education, financial stability, and health needs. Check out the Community Resource Guide at www.uwmcminn-meigs.com

Community Mobility Plan

Equitable access was the paramount discovery of the Community Mobility Plan research. Priority projects noted from the research include developing a complete streets policy, street network framework plan, sidewalk connections and new crosswalks at the city schools, downtown square, pedestrian pathways and roadway connections down Congress Parkway and Decatur Pike, streetscaping and sidewalks along and improve circulation within the new developments on Cedar Springs Road and realign cul-de-sac intersection with SR 305 and connect with Industrial Way.

Friendly City Experience Master Plan

Main Street Athens is a nonprofit organization committed to revitalizing the unique and artistic business district of downtown Athens. Main Street Athens in partnership with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, created a masterplan to enhance downtown streetscapes and wayfinding.