ATHENS, Ala. — The Athens City Council has approved a $6.5 million economic development project to bring an Olive Garden restaurant to the city. The restaurant will be located along Athens-Limestone Boulevard, near U.S. 72 and I-65.
The project is expected to create 80 new jobs and generate an estimated $4.5 million in annual taxable sales. Mayor Ronnie Marks highlighted the importance of expanding the city’s sales tax base to support vital services like public safety, recreation, and infrastructure.
“As our city continues to grow, we also have to grow our sales tax base in order to fund services such as first response, recreation, paving and sanitation,” Mayor Ronnie Marks said. “Sales tax makes up more than 40 percent of our budget, so retail investment – from national chains like Olive Garden to mom-and-pop shops and restaurants on The Square – are vital to our local economy.”
Under the approved plan, the city will pay Olive Garden up to $600,000 over the next six years, based on sales tax revenue generated by the restaurant. The incentive is contingent on Olive Garden opening and maintaining operations by certain deadlines.
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