• The region surrounds Athens to the east of Atlanta and shares a border with South Carolina.

  • The major cities in the region are Athens (Clarke County) in the center of the region, Winder (Barrow County) to the west, and Monroe (Walton County) and Covington (Newton County) to the southwest Commerce and Elberton to the North, Madison and Greensboro to the South/Southeast, and Monticello to the South.

  • Interstate 85 skirts the northwestern corner of the region, while Interstate 20 runs east west across the southern portion of the region.

  • The region's US Highways radiate from the Athens area, with US Highway 78 entering the region in the southwest and passing through Monroe on its way into Athens, then leaving the region to the southeast. US Highway 441 heads north into Athens from the south, while US Highway 129 comes from the northwest into Athens. US Highway 29 connects Lawrenceville with Athens to the east through the middle of the region.

  • The Broad River runs northwest to southeast across the northeast corner of the region, while the Oconee and the Apalachee Rivers flow southeast from Athens into the Oconee National Forest and into Lake Oconee on the southern border of the region. The Alcovy and Yellow Rivers flow through the westernmost part of the region and into Jackson Lake on the region's southwestern border.

  • The State Parks in the region are the Bobby Brown and Richard R. Russell State Parks on the northeastern border with South Carolina. The Watson Mill Bridge State Park lies near the Broad River in the northeastern area of the region. The Hard Labor Creek State Park is in Morgan County south of the center of the region. The Fort Yargo State Park lies along the US Highway 29 corridor near Winder.

P. O. Box 1807
Commerce, GA 30529

CONTACT INFORMATION

DCA Regional Representative: Candice Gunn (706) 652-2270

DCA Planning & Quality Growth
Regional Representative: Annaka Woodruff (706) 542-9967

DEcD Regional Project Manager: Susie Haggard (706) 542-9893

DEcD Regional Marketing Manager: Vacant

DEcD Tourism Representative: Faye Tripp (478) 471-5333

GT – Manager of Community Economic
Development Services: (706) 542-8902

GT - Manager of Athens Office: Frank Mewborn (706) 542-8903

GT – Field Agent: Karen Fite (706) 542-8901

GT - Administrative Secretary: Carolyn Carter (706) 542-8900

UGA – State Director, Business Outreach
Services/SBDC: Hank Logan (706) 542-6762

UGA – International Trade Consultant: Job Dieleman

UGA – Secretary: Elaine Aaron

UGA – Business Consultant: Vacant

UGA – Assistant State Director Business Outreach
Services/SBDC: Thomas Bowden (706) 542-3616

UGA – Athens Area Director: John Maynard

UGA – Information Technology Outreach
Services: Allan Adams (706) 542-5308

UGA – Secretary: Melody Banks

UGA – (706) 542-7436

©2000 Georgia Department of Community Affairs
All rights reserved.