Gwinnett Technical College is preparing to expand its impact in the True North 400 district. The state’s FY 2027 budget includes $2.26 million in bond funding to support the design of a second instructional building at the college’s Alpharetta-North Fulton campus, where current facilities have reached capacity. The proposed expansion would increase training opportunities in high-demand fields, support new programs and expand the college’s nursing program.

In a new True North 400 blog, Lauren Dodson, vice president of economic development at Gwinnett Technical College, shares how the college’s partnerships and future growth are helping prepare local workforce, support employers and strengthen North Fulton’s long-term economic competitiveness.

True North 400 recently joined representatives from the City of Roswell, the Georgia Department of Transportation, Kimley-Horn and AtkinsRéalis for an on-site walkthrough of the planned Big Creek Greenway trail extension. The group evaluated different locations along Big Creek to identify the best possible connections for the approximately two-mile extension approved by the City of Roswell.

The walkthrough provided an opportunity to assess conditions firsthand and discuss how the future trail can strengthen connectivity and accessibility throughout the area. This collaborative planning effort marks another important step toward expanding the Big Creek Greenway and creating a more connected trail network across North Fulton.

On the latest episode of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce’s 400 Insider podcast, True North 400 Executive Director Kristin Winzeler shares how the organization is helping advance the SR 400 Express Lanes project while preparing the corridor for future transit, development and economic growth.

Through strong partnerships with MARTA, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the cities of Alpharetta, Milton and Roswell, True North 400 is working to ensure this major transportation investment creates lasting value for businesses, residents and communities throughout the district. 

The long-awaited interchange at McGinnis Ferry Road and State Route 400 is officially open, creating a new exit and another important access point for Milton residents, businesses, employees and visitors. The interchange improves connectivity around Milton’s Deerfield district, provides more direct access to the city’s commercial areas and offers an additional route to help relieve congestion.

True North 400 has supported the project since its earliest stages. In 2007, the CID contributed $100,000 toward an Interchange Justification Report to determine whether a new GA 400 interchange at McGinnis Ferry Road was feasible. After the study found the interchange was justified, True North 400 partnered with Forsyth County to fund the local match for preliminary engineering and later contributed an additional $200,000 toward project design. Creating this new interchange represents an important step forward for mobility and economic opportunity along the SR 400 corridor.

In April, more than 300 transportation leaders, elected officials and community partners gathered in Alpharetta to celebrate the groundbreaking of the SR 400 Express Lanes Project, one of the most significant mobility investments in Georgia’s history. Produced by True North 400, the event celebrated the beginning of a project that will add new optional express lanes along 16 miles of the corridor, improve travel-time reliability and support expanded transit connections.

Now, the project is earning national recognition. The SR 400 Express Lanes Project has been named the Proximo North American Transport Deal of the Year 2025, honoring the innovative financing, public-private partnership and collaboration making this transformative investment possible.

Alpharetta’s GA 400 Center is seeing significant leasing momentum less than a year after Atlanta-based developer Third & Urban acquired the 24-acre office campus. The company recently announced 13 lease agreements totaling 108,000 square feet, representing nearly one-quarter of the 430,000-square-foot property. Located near GA 400 and Haynes Bridge Road, GA 400 Center’s continued growth reflects the strong demand for well-connected workplaces in Alpharetta and throughout the True North 400 district.

As Atlanta welcomed visitors from around the world for the 2026 World Cup, fans are sharing positive impressions of the city’s transportation, public spaces and hospitality. International visitors praised MARTA for being convenient, clearly marked and reliable.

The experience demonstrates how strong transportation connections and well-designed public spaces can shape the way people experience a region. For True North 400, the World Cup also offered a glimpse of what improved regional transit could mean for North Fulton.

Through its partnership with MARTA and continued advocacy for expanded transit options, True North 400 is helping advance more convenient connections between North Fulton and destinations throughout metro Atlanta. As the region prepares to host major sporting events, these investments could make it easier for North Fulton residents, employees and visitors to enjoy a more seamless commute to downtown Atlanta.