City called music friendly

ATHENS – Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced that the City of Athens has been named as a Music Friendly Texas Certified Community.

“Congratulations to the City of Athens on earning the Music Friendly Texas Certified Community designation,” Abbott said. “With support from the Texas Music Office, the Texas music industry accounts for more than 196,000 direct and indirect permanent jobs and generates over $31 billion in annual economic activity statewide. Together, we will continue to work alongside communities in every region of our state to create good-paying jobs and boost economic growth.”

The Texas Music Office is a part of the governor’s office which works with communities who are interested in bringing more music to their area by creating a Music Friendly Texas Liaison position in their city government.

“The City of Athens has always valued music as a cultural asset,” Mayor Aaron Smith said. “This year, Athens will celebrate the 95th Annual Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion & Contest. Musicians from all over the nation come to show their skills and compete against some of the very best. The Music Friendly Texas certification will be very meaningful to the citizens of Athens, verifying their long and continuing commitment to live music.”

The city and the Texas Music Office will host a certification ceremony on April 18 during the 95th Annual Athens Old Fiddlers Reunion & Contest in honor of their designation as the newest of Texas’ more than 90 Music Friendly Texas Certified Communities.