Partnership Gwinnett, the county's economic development arm, picked up a global award this week for its approach to redevelopment — and immediately turned the spotlight toward what's next. The organization received the International Economic Development Council's Award of Excellence for the Partnership Gwinnett Redevelopment Framework, presented Monday, Oct. 26, at IEDC's Annual Conference in New Orleans.
The recognition follows Partnership Gwinnett's recent designation as an Accredited Economic Development Organization and credits a framework built through the group's 4.0 strategy — work carried out through its Redevelopment Council, peer tours of other communities, and the Metro Atlanta Redevelopment Summit (MARS), which Partnership Gwinnett co-hosts with the Council for Quality Growth. The latest MARS gathering ran just two days before the award was announced, on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
A Shared Vision, County Leaders Say
"Redevelopment takes a shared vision and partners willing to move it forward," said Jasmine Jackson, director of community and economic development for the City of Lawrenceville and chair of Partnership Gwinnett's Redevelopment Goal 3 committee. "Through this work, we connect local leaders and industry expertise to help communities turn opportunity into investment and support places where businesses can thrive and people want to live, work and play."
Kevin Carmichael, Partnership Gwinnett's senior vice president of economic development, struck a similar note. "Strong communities create the foundation for a strong economy," Carmichael said. "Our redevelopment work brings people together to explore what is possible and better understand what it takes to make investment happen. This recognition reflects the commitment of our partners and the value of approaching redevelopment as a shared priority."
Eyes Forward To "5.0"
The award arrives just as Partnership Gwinnett turns the page to its next chapter. "Cultivate Place" is one of four goals in the organization's forthcoming 5.0 strategy, a five-year plan covering 2027 through 2031 that will guide the next phase of the county's economic development work. "As we look ahead to 5.0, we are building on the partnerships, legacy leadership, and progress that brought us here," Carmichael said. "Cultivating place means considering how our communities support business investment, connect people to opportunity and contribute to Gwinnett's long-term success."
Public Launch Set For Nov. 6 In Buford
Partnership Gwinnett is inviting business and community leaders to the Partnership Gwinnett 5.0 Launch on Friday, Nov. 6, from 8 to 10 a.m. at The Water Tower, the county's water-industry education and co-working campus at 2500 Clean Water Court in Buford. The event will introduce the new strategy and give attendees a chance to learn how investors and partners can help shape how it gets carried out over the next five years.
Anyone planning to attend should check Partnership Gwinnett's event listing on the Gwinnett Chamber's calendar for registration details, since the group's public announcement didn't specify a cost or RSVP deadline. It's an early, public look at the strategy that will steer the county's business recruitment and redevelopment work through 2031.