The State of the Athens City and County Address was held at the Athens Community Center on Wednesday morning. The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce organized the address to discuss the 2025 Year in Review from city and county departments.
The Albany VFW Post 9893 started with the presentation of the colors to the full audience in the community center's multipurpose rooms. The attendees included many local business owners and government officials across Athens County.
Kristin Miller, president and CEO of Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, made welcoming remarks, then discussed the 2025 review for the AACC. Miller said the chamber represented 375 businesses and organizations last year and saved its members $201,000. She also announced the AACC will relocate its offices to the Athens Armory building this year.
Next, Mayor Steve Patterson began by addressing the concerns about various construction projects around Athens. He mentioned the West Union Street construction, which affected business and traffic in the area, and the ongoing Stimson Avenue bridge construction that Patterson said is 90% completed.
Patterson defended the projects, saying they will create a better impression on visitors of Athens, and the roundabouts will make the city more eco-friendly.
“In my opinion, and hopefully a lot of yours, we need to continue to uplift our gateways into the city of Athens because you only get one first impression,” Patterson said.
A few city officials, including Patterson, mentioned the measure to increase income taxes, which will be on the ballot in May. Patterson encouraged voters to approve this measure, saying it will allow the city to continue making improvements and provide services to the community.
Patterson then introduced Chris Chmiel, an Athens County Commissioner. Chmiel also emphasized the importance of the upcoming elections, noting his fellow commissioner, Lenny Eliason, will be retiring and an election will be held to fill his place.
In 2026, Chmield said they hope to expand sewer districts in the county, specifically focusing on New Marshfield.
Chmiel was followed by Courtney Lefebvre, Associate Director at the Center for Community Impact at Ohio University. Lefebvre discussed the university's enrollment statistics, noting a 3.6% increase in total enrollment for 2025.
Lefebvre said the university was really excited about the increase in student retention rates. She said last year, the university had a record 84.7% first-year retention rate, the highest in 20 years, and they couldn’t have accomplished that without support from the Athens community.
“Students choosing to stay and finish what they started here doesn’t happen because of a single program,” Lefebvre said. “It happens because students feel connected to a place through internships, mentorships, part-time jobs, volunteer work and the everyday interaction they have in the community.”
Then, the audience heard from Mollie Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Athens County Economic Development Council, who said they helped secure Athens County businesses with grants, loans and tax incentives in 2025, including multiple JobsOhio small business grants.
Fitzgerald highlighted the Hocking Hills Garment Center, which received one of these grants and plans to expand its “Made in America” garment operations and add jobs in 2026.
She also said another focus for the Economic Development Council this year is improving housing in Athens County.
“There’s been a lot of conversation about what [our] role in housing should be, and I definitely think there’s a role for us,” Fitzgerald said. “How are we supposed to attract companies here if we can’t house our employees?”
The last presenter, Athens Fire Department Chief Robert Rymer, expressed his gratitude for the new fire station, which opened on Stimson Avenue in 2025, but also his concern for its understaffing.
Rymer said the Athens firefighter-to-population ratio is half the national average, and he hopes to address this issue in 2026.
Miller concluded the event by promising that the AACC would hold another address in 2027 and requesting feedback to improve next time.
