Athens Achieves

Athens Achieves is a collaborative initiative that unites business, education, and local government to build a strong workforce pipeline, ensuring a skilled talent pool for current and future employers in Athens-Clarke County. Continuous engagements with our stakeholders will promote a thriving Athens-Clarke County with a sustainable workforce infrastructure that attracts, develops, and retains top talent and quality employers.

Athens Achieves has launched an ambitious strategic plan to strengthen workforce development through several key goals:

Job Portal Development – Creating a comprehensive platform to connect employers with job seekers, and the hiring of job navigators to assist with securing employment and connecting individuals with wrap-around services provided by our community partners.
Education & Training – Developing essential life and leadership skills, career pathway alignment (secondary/post-secondary), and second-chance employment opportunities for individuals looking to re-enter the workforce. This also includes developing apprenticeship opportunities that allow individuals to receive related technical industrial in conjunction with on-the-job training ultimately preparing them for skilled trades and high demand careers within the Athens-Clarke County Community.
Improving third grade reading proficiency - According to Science for Georgia, “Students who cannot read proficiently at their grade level by the end of 3rd grade are four times more likely than their proficient counterparts to drop out of high school and are more likely to experience long-term behavioral and mental health issues.” Literacy skills are foundational for career readiness, especially in a workforce that increasingly values critical thinking and communication.