Oconee County Archives - Business RadioX ®

Beyond The Cupola

Courtney Bernardi with the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce and David Bradley with the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce

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Courtney Bernardi/Oconee County Chamber of Commerce

Oconee County is the ideal place for living and working. The Oconee County Chamber of Commerce fosters quality of life and community through alliances to support economic growth. The Chamber is a volunteer organization of business and professional people. The primary function of a Chamber of Commerce is to act as the spokesperson for the business and professional community and translate into action at the will of its members.

What you will find in Oconee County is an inviting business and family-friendly environment. Businesses of all sizes call Oconee County home whether they are large manufacturing facilities such at Caterpillar with over 1,500 employees, or small home-based businesses with just 1 employee. Simply put, no matter the size of your business, they want to help you succeed. In 2018, niche.com ranked Oconee County as the “Best Georgia County to Live” and “Best Georgia County for Families” while countyhealthrankings.org ranked Oconee County as the #2 Healthiest County in Georgia. The county also boasts one of the top educational systems in the state of Georgia.

David Bradley/Athens Area Chamber of Commerce

Since 1904, the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce has served their members and the community by fostering relationships and strengthening the ties that have secured Athens’ position as the hub of northeast Georgia.

Today, 246 West Hancock Avenue serves as a “one-stop shop” for business in Athens by housing not only the Chamber of Commerce but also the Clarke County Mentor Program, the Department of Economic Development of Athens-Clarke County, Industrial Development Authority and Athens Cultural Affairs Commission. The Chamber has realized its vision of being the regional leader on issues vital to a thriving business community.

Beyond The Cupola

Wanda Stitt-Gohdes with the Oconee Area Resource Council (OARC) and Coleman Benko with Oconee State Bank

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“Beyond the Cupola” allows invited customers, community, and team members of Oconee State Bank to have an opportunity to share their stories of success and inspiration, and/or how the Remarkable culture of Oconee State Bank has inspired them to mark lives in their own right.

Wanda Stitt-Gohdes/Oconee Area Resource Council

The Oconee Area Resource Council is part of the Georgia Family Connection Partnership, a Georgia statewide initiative of 159 community collaborative partnerships committed to making measurable improvements for children and families in Georgia.

Controlled at the community level, Family Connection is present in every county in Georgia. It is the largest statewide network of communities in the nation that have made a commitment to improve results for children and families. In Oconee County, the OARC collaborates with local, state and national organizations to research the needs of their community and work together to address those needs.

The OARC pursues that goal by addressing the root causes of problems, building on their strengths, pooling resources, engaging an extraordinary diverse group of community members, and committing to a long-term process of planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Using a family-centered approach, schools, health and human service agencies, business, the faith community, law enforcement, nonprofit organizations, civic clubs, and others work together with families, focusing on academics, physical and mental health, nurturing parenting, economic success, and community service.

Coleman Benko/Oconee State Bank

In the early 1900s, there were banks in all the small towns of Oconee County… Bishop, Bogart, Eastville, Farmington and Watkinsville. When the Depression came along in 1929, all the banks went broke and Oconee County was without a bank for the next 30 years. Farmers and small merchants had to travel to Athens for their banking needs.

In 1958, a group of community leaders recognized the need for a bank in Oconee County and started a process of getting the necessary approval for a state chartered community bank. In 1959, the FDIC approved a community bank and Oconee State Bank opened its doors for business on February 1, 1960 with 3 employees and a small corner office on Main Street in downtown Watkinsville.

Today, Oconee State Bank has 3 full-service financial centers located in Oconee County, GA as well as a website which serves as an “Internet Branch.” The vision of the founders continues today. Oconee State Bank is proud to provide an unparalleled commitment to personalized service, value-added products, and a deep sense of responsibility to the communities they serve.