Athens City Council Approves Development for New Publix

The Athens City Council approved an economic development project associated with the retail investment on Thursday, December 19th. According to the City of Athens 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the city’s grocery store sales significantly leak to neighboring municipalities, with the eastern region seeing the worst of this. Thanks to the project, Athens will be able to establish a new business center inside the city. In Athens, this will be the third Publix. Approximately 115 new jobs will be created as a result of the Publix development, which will also bring in about $22 million in sales annually. For ten years or until it reimburses the business $5.6 million, whichever comes first, Athens will pay the sales tax generated in arrears, less certain expenses. To assist with the cost of right-of-way improvements on Mooresville Road and U.S. 72, the City of Athens will apply for ADECA Community Development Block Grant and Appalachian Regional Commission Grant funding. Internal roads specifically for Athens will also be a part of the development. When the internal roads are finished, the city will have spent $1 million on them.