| Gateway85 CID February 2024 Newsletter
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Gwinnett Chamber Annual Dinner Honors Rudy Bowen
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On Friday, February 2, Gwinnett County hosted its annual Gwinnett Dinner bringing together business executives, community leaders and elected officials from Gwinnett County to honor a variety of our greatest citizens, including Rudy Bowen, who was aptly named Citizen of the Year.
Bowen grew up in Georgia and lived in the metro Atlanta area when the highways we see today were unpaved dirt roads. He became a Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) board member in 2007 serving the 7th Congressional District, after starting his own construction company, Bowen Family Homes, and when Gateway85 was still a brand-new community improvement district.
He’s known in GDOT circles as the facilitator who brings people to the table to discuss issues and try to find solutions.
In 2021, Bowen told Gateway85 CID, “…We’ve seen a dramatic increase in the population of Gwinnett County, resulting in an equally dramatic increase in traffic. Our goal is to plan for the future by eliminating frustrations caused by these increases and provide more options to easily move residents and visitors throughout the metro Atlanta region." (In conjunction with this sentiment, see below for a link to a freight mobility survey that closes on February 16.)
Bowen was credited with providing steady leadership during unprecedented times to keep roadwork and maintenance projects on or ahead of schedule. We congratulate Rudy Bowen on being named Gwinnett County’s Citizen of the Year. We can’t think of a more deserving individual.
Click here to see images from the event.
Click here to read the Gwinnett Forum and Gwinnett Daily Post.
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Lunar New Year 2024
Gateway85 CID was a proud sponsor of the Vietnamese-American Community of Georgia’s Annual Lunar New Year celebration that took place February 3 - 4. The two-day event at Plaza Las Americas commemorated the Year of the Dragon with beauty pageants, lucky money giveaways, firecrackers, traditional lion dances, Vietnamese street food, cultural performances, carnival games and more.
The celebration didn’t end after February 4! On February 11, Hội Chợ Tết Atlanta hosted an event at L&I Properties LLC that featured a talent contest, raffle draws, kids’ events, a modeling show and a Vietnamese concert. These vibrant celebrations promoted unity and the preservation of Vietnamese Culture, and we are grateful to have been a part of it.
Watch a video of the Annual Lunar New Year celebration here!
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Pictured above: Alejandro Coss - President & CEO, Latin American Chamber of Commerce; Hipolito Goico - Managing Partner, Goico Bolet, P.C. (Gateway85 CID member); Liz Rodriguez - Operations Manager, Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia; Olga Gorman - Community Manager, Gateway85; Pedro "Pete" Marin - GA State Representative; Veronica Maldonado-Torres - President & CEO, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Emory Morsberger - CEO, Gateway85 CID; Clara Richardson-Olguin - Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, CEO CIC FLOORS, LLC (Gateway85 CID member); and Larry Campbell - President and CEO, Corners Outreach.
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Latino Support Service Provider Luncheon Recap
Gateway85 CID has the highest concentration of Latino residents in the county with a number of organizations that support the community. However, we saw an opportunity to bring these organizations together to discuss how to take that support to the next level. We recently hosted a Latino Support Service Provider Luncheon at Corners Outreach on January 18 to coordinate services to best support the growing Latino population in the Southwest Gwinnett area. The 38 community participants included business leaders, non-profit organizations and government officials, all with the same purpose-driven mission – to increase accessibility to crucial human services, education and employment opportunities in our diverse district.
The CID also hosted a second successful luncheon on February 8, where supporters of the Latino community engaged in critical conversations regarding education, health and wellbeing, housing, economic development and more. We are extremely grateful to those supporting this initiative and helping break barriers in Gwinnett County’s Latino community.
The events led to the launch of the Gateway85 Coalition: The Hub of Global Diversity. Gateway85 aims to uplift immigrants, support local businesses and celebrate diversity with the help of this initiative that addresses the complex issues faced by the growing Latino community. Ultimately, the CID’s role will be to coordinate existing services and better assimilate our Latino population into the community and to fill open jobs that need skilled labor throughout the district.
Read more about Gateway85’s efforts to support the growing Latino community here.
Read more about the Coalition here.
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Gateway85 Progresses on 2024 Goals
At the January 2024 board meeting, executive director Emory Morsberger laid out the goals for 2024, which include:
- Maintain district security and safety
- The CID has more Flock cameras than any other CID in the county
- Improve curb appeal
- Maintain “grade A” landscaping and maintenance throughout the district
- Upgrade the appearance of the flagship corridor
- Improve policing, government counseling and housing to reduce unhoused issues
- Improve vehicle and pedestrian mobility
- Promote economic development
- Support members and Gateway85 businesses
The CID is working to develop quarterly town hall updates to discuss progress on these goals and other initiatives to increase property values throughout the district. Stay tuned!
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Gateway85 Hires Gibson Landscape
Gibson Landscape’s mission is to build and manage commercial spaces to serve people with excellence. Gateway85 is excited to announce that it has hired Gibson Landscape to maintain and approve the appearance of the district in alignment with the 2024 goals.
Started in 1998 with a corporate office in Alpharetta, Gibson Landscape specializes in commercial maintenance, hardscape and landscape. Managing over 3 million square feet of turf, Gibson's goal is to always provide a service that results in a beautiful space. They make that happen with dedicated and detail-oriented crews; showing up when they say and doing what they’ve promised. Along the way, they also focus on building relationships. Of course, in this industry, results are made when action is taken and goals are reached. Gibson is excited reach those goals with Gateway85 CID.
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Only One Day Left - Logistics Companies’ Freight Mobility Survey Link
Gateway85 and Partnership Gwinnett have come together to shape the future of freight movement. Through collaborative research, we aim to enhance support for your enterprises, especially with upcoming government investments in infrastructure. Over the next year, we'll be implementing and refining plans to improve traffic, freight movement, pedestrian safety, economic development and clean energy infrastructure.
Take the survey here to help improve logistics, manufacturing and warehouse industries in our community.
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Gateway85 CID 2023 Annual Report
In 2023, Gateway85 CID continued to focus on increasing the property values for our members by improving access to the district as well as mobility, landscaping, beautification and security. While the CID has invested its members’ funds wisely, the real power is our ability to secure added funding from partners like Gwinnett County, the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB) and many more to complete our projects. In fact, in 2023, we leveraged partnership funding 30:1, and in 2024, we have more than $25 million committed from Gwinnett County from SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) funding for projects at OFS, Jimmy Carter Boulevard and for added sidewalks.
Additionally, the CID's staff grew. The inclusion of Dr. Carolyn Bourdeaux and Olga Gorman further bolstered special projects and member outreach, respectively.
The 2023 Annual Report is live on the Gateway85 CID website click here to learn more about what Gateway85 accomplished in 2023.
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Nonprofit Spotlight – A. Worley Brown Boys & Girls Club
The spotlight is on the A. Worley Brown Boys & Girls Club! Located in Norcross, the club provides a safe haven for children and teens, empowering them to dream, discover and develop to their fullest potential. With a focus on academic achievement and overall well-being, the club offers a diverse array of programs and activities. From culinary arts and gardening to STEM exploration, creative writing, sports and much more, there's something for every young person eager to excel.
We thank A. Worley Brown Boys & Girls Club for their contributions to the community and for enriching the lives of numerous young individuals!
Learn more, donate or become a Program Partner here.
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Atlanta Technical College Taps into Growth Industry
Atlanta Technical College is gearing up to establish a Center for Transportation and Logistics, aimed at enriching students' understanding of supply chain, logistics and warehousing careers. With a vision to educate up to 500 commercial drivers annually, the institution intends to forge partnerships with industry players. This collaboration will not only assist students and alumni in pinpointing workforce demands but also facilitate their journey toward career progression. If all goes according to plan, the center could open later this year.
Read more here.
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Corners Outreach Grand Opening
Corners Outreach, which is dedicated to breaking generational poverty cycles and empowering metro Atlanta's underserved communities through educational development and economic opportunities, will hold its grand opening event on Thursday, March 14. This event will feature a special ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by guided tours of the center’s new location. This is a great opportunity for guests to learn more and celebrate this significant milestone in its journey to serve others.
Gateway85 is proud to work alongside Corners Outreach on a new initiative to support the Latino community.
Learn more and RSVP here.
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State of Gwinnett
March 7, 2024, 8:30 – 10:15 a.m.
12Stone Church
Learn more and register here.
Corners Outreach Grand Opening
March 14, 2:30 p.m.
Learn more and RSVP here.
Greener Pastures
March 21 – April 14, 2024
Aurora Theatre
Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Rainbow Village Second Chance Golf Classic 2024
April 15, 2025, 12 p.m.
TPC Sugarloaf
Learn more and register as a sponsor here.
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