For Georgia’s “Greatest Little Town,” Social Circle is about to get a bigger spotlight.

Athens Technical College is bringing a campus location to Social Circle, announced at the Industry Leaders’ Lunch Thursday. There is already a location in Monroe.

The college’s president contacted Social Circle Mayor Hal Dally about three months ago, Dally said. At the time, Athens Tech was looking at locating in Monroe, Loganville or Social Circle. Dally said he got the call last Wednesday.

“We’re excited about them choosing Social Circle,” Dally said. “We never dreamed anything like this to happen, but we’re happy to welcome them to town. It’s pretty good for a small town.”

Dally said he does not know the official date the branch is supposed to open to students. However, the campus will sit on the eastern side of the new section of Truck Bypass that is currently being built, and that road is not scheduled to open until November 2015.

Athens Tech is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associates degrees. Originally called Athens Area Vocational-Technical School, it was founded in 1958 before being renamed Athens Area Technical Institute in 1987 and becoming today’s name in 2000. According to its website the school offers classes in technical, business, health and manufacturing fields.

In addition to the new campus coming to Social Circle and the established campus in Monroe, there are locations in Athens, Elbert County, Greene County and Washington, Georgia.