News & Success stories

Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that ByoPlanet® International, a leading producer of electrostatic spray technology, is investing nearly $7 million in expanding its Georgia manufacturing operations, delivering 250 jobs to Athens-Clarke County.

Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that biotechnology company RWDC Industries will invest $260 million in expanding its operations into Athens-Clarke County. This innovative development will create 200 jobs.

Governor Brian P. Kemp announced today that Wayfair, one of the world’s largest online destinations for the home, will create 500 jobs and invest more than $8 million in a customer support facility in Athens.

As ArunA Biomedical CEO Mark Sirgo tells it, his colleague Steve Stice, Ph.D., had been “throwing away the best part for years.” He’s referring to exosomes, a cellular component long thought of as the cell’s garbage removal system.

Gov. Nathan Deal announced today that Ethicon, Inc. is planning to expand operations in Athens-Clarke County, adding to the company’s existing Georgia presence in Athens and Cornelia.

A decades-long partnership between Georgia’s flagship university and a global leader in human and animal health has improved the lives of students, educators, researchers, farmers, livestock, pets and pet owners. And for UGA and Boehringer-Ingelheim, the work has only just begun.

Blue Lake Biotechnology, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing intranasal vaccines using a proprietary parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5)-based vector, announced preliminary interim data today from a phase 1 clinical trial of its BLB201 vaccine for prevention of severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated disease (NCT05281263).

What started as an in-home recording studio in Mississippi is now a major audio recording school, giving students in Athens preparation in all areas of sound engineering.

In anticipation of film and television industry demand for its 200,000 square feet of purpose-built production space, Athena Studios has announced the purchase of an additional 65 acres of land adjacent to the original 45-acre site currently under construction at 900 Athena Dr.
The expansion will add 350,000 square feet to the already massive facility, which is scheduled to open its initial phase on Mar. 1, 2023 with the ability to host productions of any size. The increased acreage will allow for the construction of backlot space, and will make Athena one of the largest production studios in Georgia.

Anyone who walks through downtown Athens will likely notice the large bronze guitar pick plaques shining up at them from the sidewalk. These plaques bear the names of notable musicians who found their start in the Classic City, of which there are quite a few.

Athens Research and Technology, an established life sciences company near the University of Georgia was recently recognized as one of Georgia’s Exporters of the Year. ART manufacturers bio-medically relevant proteins for use in research and further manufacturing. In spite of supply chain issues and quarantines, ART remained committed to their clients worldwide ensuring that materials vital to research and product development where delivered on time. ART’s purified proteins are often used for antigen testing and in pharmaceutical research.

Dalan Animal Health, Inc., a biotech company focused on insect health, announced today that it will relocate its headquarters to Athens, Georgia. The company is anticipated to create 20 new jobs over the next five years.
The company aims to bring to market the world’s first honeybee vaccine to improve the health and productivity of honeybee colonies.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced the recipients of the 2022 GLOBE Award. Managed by the Department’s International Trade team, this state-led awards program highlights Georgia companies that expanded sales to new international markets in the previous year. During calendar year 2021, the 25 GLOBE winners collectively exported to 70 countries.
The 2022 Exporters of the Year are:
Small company (1-20 employees): Athens Research & Technology, Athens, Clarke County
Mid-size company (21-100 employees): PureAir Filtration, Peachtree Corners, Gwinnett County
Large company (101+ employees): Interra International, Atlanta, Cobb County

After nearly four years of construction, the new tower at Piedmont Athens Regional opened last week, with a ribbon-cutting Apr. 21. The 229,000 square-foot tower—built on the site of a former structure dating back to 1919—includes 128 modernized inpatient rooms, a cafe, gift shop, pharmacy, clinical program support areas, outdoor courtyards and a patient and family resource center.

Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that Boehringer Ingelheim, a global research-driven pharmaceutical development and manufacturing company based in Germany, will expand its Animal Health Global Innovation center in Athens, Georgia. The $57 million investment will increase laboratory space and bring additional research and development capabilities and activities, including 55 new positions, to the site.

An Athens real estate firm is investing $60 million in a large TV and film studio called Athena Studios that recently broke ground in the city.

In the course of their research, investigators at the University of Georgia frequently develop rare and unique materials, reagents, and tools for very specific purposes related to their own research. Now, through a new master licensing agreement between the University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. and KeraFAST, investigators at universities, other nonprofit life science research institutions, and for-profit organizations around the globe will have speedy access to these one-of-a-kind materials.

Powered by the faculty and staff of the AU/UGA Medical Partnership, the Athens Free Mobile Clinic has provided more than $132,000 in free primary medical care to more than 600 underserved members of the Athens community since the clinic’s inception in 2018.

Earlier this year, Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center celebrated the groundbreaking of the final phase of its $171 million expansion and renovation project. Hundreds of community supporters and hospital staff gathered on the front lawn of the hospital, standing where a new, seven-story patient tower would soon be built.

Matt Stevens (AB’03, MPA’14) is the Director of Community and Culture at Creature Comforts Brewing Co. in Athens. For National Beer Day we’re asking the questions everyone wants to know – from how Creature Comfort’s philanthropy started to Stevens’ top three favorite beers.

Terrapin’s commitment to solar was featured in The Washington Times!

Dustin Watts knows a lot about beer. And he knows a lot about Athens.

We are beyond excited to share that Creature Comforts has officially been certified as a B Corporation (B Corp)! This makes us only the 16th brewery in the country to achieve the certification.

Terrapin Beer Co along with Middle Tennessee State University has created a Brewing Education Scholarship Fund to support under-represented communities within the brewing industry.

The 60 new first-year medical students key to combating physician shortage. This year’s class is the largest in the partnership’s history, part of a statewide effort to combat the nation’s physician shortage.

Materials innovation company Cove’s partnership with PHA supplier RWDC will supply Cove with PHA for the production of the first water bottles made of biodegradable material. After an extensive, three-year research and development effort, during which Cove worked with a number of PHA producers, the company determined that RWDC has the most advanced technology and is the best-suited partner for aggressive growth.

Athens Creatives are invited to join a digital registry aimed at providing them a place to connect with other artists, patrons, and members of the community. The ACC Economic Development Department teamed up with CREATE Athens, a division of Envision Athens, and others to make Athens Creatives Directory a reality.

Uplifting and beautifying artwork will decorate the windows of downtown storefronts beginning this week, as the Athens Banner Project distributes its designs to 120 different businesses.