Participants from the Cultivating Nonprofit Capacity in Athens program graduating

WATCH: Cultivating Nonprofit Capacity in Athens Program video

ACCGov's Housing & Community Development Department (HCD) created the Cultivating Nonprofit Capacity in Athens (CNC Athens) program to support local nonprofit organizations that experienced negative economic impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This video highlights the fall 2024 session of the program.

HCD launched the 2025 edition of CNC Athens as a free, six-part training series designed to help nonprofits strengthen operations, leadership, and community impact. Staff or board members from nonprofits serving Athens-Clarke County are encouraged to attend. The first class took place in June.

Registration is required for each session and opens approximately one month before the session date. Each class is limited to 25, so register early at www.accgov.com/hcd. The next class takes place July 15.

Closeup image of clear water being poured into a reservoir

Public Utilities 2025 Service Delivery Plan

Join the ACCGov Public Utilities Department for a series of drop-in open house sessions to talk about the 2025 Service Delivery Plan update, which evaluates water and sewer needs over the next 20 years. The open houses are for residents to learn more about the plan, ask questions, and give feedback on the projects. Sessions include:

Thursday, June 26 from 5:30 - 6:30 PM at Water Resources Center (780 Barber Street)
Thursday, July 10 from 5:30 - 6:30 PM at Athens-Clarke County Library (2025 Baxter Street)
Wednesday, July 23 from 12:00 - 1:00 PM at Goodwill East Athens Training Center (4070 Lexington Road)
Thursday, August 7 from 5:30 - 6:30 PM at Athens-Clarke County Extension Office (275 Cleveland Road)
Saturday, August 16 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (optional facility tour at 10:30 and 11:00 AM) at North Oconee Water Reclamation Facility (150 N. Oconee Access Road)

Full details on the plan and each project can be found at www.accgov.com/sdp, along with an online survey open through August 31 for those who cannot attend the sessions in-person.

Juneteenth

The Athens community is invited to acknowledge, celebrate, and honor Juneteenth at the Juneteenth Music and Arts Fest on Thursday, June 19 from 3:00-7:00 PM at the intersection of College Avenue and Washington Street in downtown Athens in front of City Hall.

The celebration, funded through ACCGov's People & Belonging Department, will feature an outdoor market, youth and family zone, speakers, performances, dancing, and more.

Note also that ACCGov departments and offices will have schedule and service changes due to the observed holiday on Thursday, June 19.

General administrative buildings will have closures, while Animal Services, Leisure Services, Solid Waste, and Transit will have changes to their schedules. For full details, visit www.accgov.com/news.

Star Spangled Classic text on top of fireworks

Star Spangled Classic on Sat., June 28

Celebrate Independence Day at the annual Star Spangled Classic on Saturday, June 28 at Southeast Clarke Park (4440 Lexington Road). Complete details and a map are available at www.accgov.com/fireworks.

Free activities begin at 6:00 PM, with a special concert by the Funk Brotherhood from 7:00-8:30 PM. Food trucks will be onsite with items for purchase, and fireworks will launch around 9:30 PM.

Free shuttles will circulate from Walmart off of Lexington Road, Whit Davis Elementary School, and the World of Wonder Playground parking lot to and from the park starting at 5:30 PM. All ACCGov park rules will be enforced, including no pets, alcohol, personal fireworks, grills, or smoking.

If severe weather is predicted, the event will take place on June 27.

City Hall dome against a blue cloudy sky

FY26 Budget approved

The Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 was approved by the Mayor and Commission during their June 10, 2024 Special Called Session meeting. A Commission-defined budget option was approved with some changes to the Mayor's Recommended Budget that was released in April.

A recording of the full meeting is available on YouTube, as well as on the ACCGov channel on Roku and Fire TV apps.

Budget documents can be viewed at www.accgov.com/budget, along with answers to Commissioners' questions during the budget process. The full final FY26 Budget document is being finalized by the ACCGov Budget and Strategic Analysis Department and will be available in July.

White text in front of green artistic paint swirls

Athens Creatives Directory 2.0

The ACCGov Economic Development Department (Invest Athens) and CREATE Athens (a division of Envision Athens) recently relaunched the Athens Creatives Directory as a searchable hub to help uplift, support, and connect the Athens area creative community.

Athens area creatives are encouraged to list themselves in the directory. Listings must include at least one selected category, a form of contact (website, social media, email, etc.), a description, and one image. Some of the categories included in the directory are visual arts, media arts, performing arts, musical arts, literary arts, and code and design.

Visit athenscreatives.directory to explore or add yourself to the list.

Bishop Park Pool re-opens

After two summers of closure, the new Bishop Park pool is open and ready for public and competition use!

The pool includes a 10-lane competitive swim area, diving blocks, two diving boards, water basketball goals, and a zero entry area with six spray features near the entrance. The pool deck features new umbrellas, lounge chairs, picnic tables, sun shades, and bench seating for swim meets.

Check out a video about the pool and the ribbon cutting on YouTube or on the ACCGov channel on Roku and Fire TV.

The pool is open Tuesday–Friday and Sundays from 1:00–5:30 PM and noon–5:30 PM on Saturdays. Admission is $1 per person, cash only. Season passes are available for purchase and may be used at both splash pads and at all of the pools. Individual pool passes are $20 and passes for a family of four are $40.

Visit www.accgov.com/aquatics for more information on the Bishop Park pool and other aquatics facilities and classes.

American Black Bear posing with paws under his face

Remembering DJ

After many years of living at Bear Hollow Zoo, the 22 year-old American Black Bear "DJ" was humanely euthanized in May by veterinary staff due to progression in his previously diagnosed spinal osteoarthritis.

DJ was first diagnosed with spinal osteoarthritis in 2022, and was later diagnosed with heart disease in 2024. These diseases are non-operable and incurable in bears. The staff at Bear Hollow and the vet team have provided palliative care for DJ since the diagnoses, but recent developments led to a significantly decreased quality of life and euthanasia was deemed the most compassionate course of action.

In the days leading up to his euthanasia, he was given plenty of attention and extra access to his favorite treat, coconut. At the time of DJ’s passing, he was surrounded by those who knew and loved him best. The UGA teaching hospital will conduct a necropsy to gain insight on cause of death and to collect samples for research.

DJ was one of a kind and brought joy to many who visited the zoo. He could often be seen lazily enjoying a rainy-day nap or spending time with his companions, Yonah and Athena. They have been residents at Bear Hollow Zoo since 2010 with DJ first arriving in 2005. DJ’s estimated age was 22 and he has outlived most of his counterparts living in the wild.

For more information about Bear Hollow Zoo, visit www.accgov.com/bearhollow.

The ACCGov Mixtape is distributed monthly by the Communications Department, accgov.com/communications, 706-613-3795