On Wednesday, March 3, Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson gave an update on the state of Gwinnett at the Gwinnett Chamber’s annual State of the County Address.
The greatness of Gwinnett and the success which thrives within transcend any individual, group, or generation. As Chairwoman Hendrickson repeatedly stated, our ability as a community to stay vibrantly connected, especially this past year, has allowed Gwinnett County to grow stronger, be more united, and desire to be even more visionary. Some of the past successes and strengths Chairwoman Hendrickson highlighted include:
-Our decades-long AAA credit bond rating that allows the county to borrow at a low interest rate for development, redevelopment, and county services
-SPLOST funding since the mid-80s for capital projects throughout the county
-World-class parks and libraries
-Two-time Board Prize winning public school system
-Award-winning advanced wastewater treatment center, The F. Wayne Hill Water Resource Center
-CALEA accredited police department
-Diversity of culture and ideas (one-fourth foreign born, one-third speaks a language other than English)
The successes of our past have greatly enabled our successes today. Chairwoman Hendrickson and the county commissioners have been committed to addressing the existing challenges, including:
Small Businesses
-Distributing 20 million dollars in CARES Act grants and loans for small businesses impacted by COVID
-The Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center, scheduled to open later this year, will serve as an incubator for entrepreneurs and startups
Transportation
-Consider multi-modal options to address congestion
-Explore alternatives to traditional modes of transportation
Healthcare Disparities
-Repurposing the Gwinnett Place Mall area to serve as a mass COVID-19 vaccination and testing site
Housing and Food Insecurities
-Launching Project RESET, a program working directly with tenants and landlords to prevent evictions
-Working with HomeFirst Gwinnett to set up warming shelters
-Working with Gwinnett County Public Schools to provide breakfast and lunch for students during the pandemic
We are blessed here in Gwinnett that what is normal to us is an aspiration elsewhere. As we look ahead and beyond the pandemic, the Gwinnett Chamber is proud to partner with our elected officials in working together to raise the Gwinnett standard of excellence and exceed expectations for years to come.
For more photos from the event, CLICK HERE.
To watch a recording of the event, CLICK HERE.
