Category: Government

Robert Nichols announces he will run for reelection

State Sen. Robert Nichols

Press release

Texas State Senator Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) announced this week his intention to file for re-election to the Texas Senate.

“Serving Senate District 3 is the greatest honor of my life,” said Nichols. “I humbly ask for voters’ support to continue working on behalf of East Texas. When I first ran, I pledged to work to make state government smaller, more efficient and more accountable. We have delivered on those promises, and I am excited to keep building on our record of success.”

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AEDC receives Economic Excellence recognition for second straight year

Press release

For the second year in a row, the Athens Economic Development Corporation has been recognized for Economic Excellence by the Texas Economic Development Council. The 2016 recipients were announced last week at the TEDC’s Mid-Year Conference in Plano.

The objectives of the Economic Excellence Recognition Program are to provide recognition to economic development agencies that meet a threshold of professionalism, encourage professional staff membership and involvement in TEDC. AEDC was one of 33 communities recognized.

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Gooden-Nichols pass sex offender legislation

Lance Gooden

Press release

Last weekend, legislation that allows smaller cities to enact the same regulations as larger cities on where sex offenders can reside finally passed both houses of the Texas Legislature. The stand-alone bill, filed each legislative session since 2009, never made it fully through the process in either chamber. An amendment that was attached to the bill in the Senate earlier this month, and that survived a lengthy debate on the full House floor, is finally making its way to the Governor’s desk.

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The City of Athens announces recipients of the 2017 Downtown Façade Improvement Program

Press release

This spring, the City of Athens implemented a new program called the Downtown Façade Improvement Program. The program is designed to help improve the aesthetic qualities and preserve historic structures in the Athens downtown area, which includes the nine blocks of downtown, Athens Alley, and several other areas adjacent to the square. The program allows for 80:20 grants (80% contributed by the City of Athens, 20% from the property owner) with a grant maximum of $12,500 per façade and $25,000 per project. All funding for the program is made available exclusively from the City’s Hotel Occupancy Taxes. Applications for 2017 were due at the beginning of April.

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