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ONLINE CANDIDATE FORUM RECAP:
THE RACE FOR GWINNETT COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHAIR

On Wednesday, April 22 from 6 – 7:30 p.m., the five Gwinnett County CIDs, Gateway85, Evermore, Gwinnett Place, Lilburn and Sugarloaf, hosted the only virtual candidate forum for the Gwinnett County Commission Chairman seat being vacated by Charlotte Nash.

The event featured all eight candidates, including George Awuku, Nicole Love Hendrickson, Andy Morgan, Marcia Neaton, Desmond Nembhard, David Post, Curt Thompson and Lee Thompson. Candidates answered questions covering transportation, redevelopment, security and more, and viewers were able to submit questions via the Zoom chat.

Thank you to the more than 200 viewers who tuned into the online candidate forum. The candidate pool is one of the most diverse the County has seen in its history. While nearly half of the candidates felt that transit is the main issue in Gwinnett County, others focused their responses on redevelopment and public safety. All candidates agreed that during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial that Gwinnett County remains focused on keeping its citizens’ at the forefront while maintaining a strategic budget. With many diverging opinions and goals, it’s now more important than ever to be informed before heading to the polls! Click here to watch the Gwinnett County Commissioner Chairman online forum.

GATEWAY85 CID MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
AND ACTS OF KINDNESS

Gateway85 CID, the state’s largest community improvement district, called on its members asking for supplies and other help to assist with managing the needs of local organizations dealing with the impact of COVID-19. To no surprise, a number of members stepped up immediately. Below are some highlights! 

If you can and would like to help, please contact Emory Morsberger at 770.409.8100.

OFS Donates Critical Medical Equipment to Atlanta Hospitals

OFS donations being picked up by Friends of Disabled Adults and Children's CEO Chris Brand (right). Also pictured is Crystal Young, assistant to OFS' Mike Reams.

OFS, a global designer, manufacturer and provider of optical fiber cables since 1974 and now film production studio, donated PPE and critical care equipment to help local nonprofits and hospitals.

Emory Morsberger connected studio manager Mike Reams with Friends of Disabled Adults and Children’s (FODAC) CEO Chris Brand, who helped OFS coordinate the donation and transportation of stretchers, hazmat suits, hospital beds and other essential medical equipment. 

Studios like OFS, where blockbuster films Black Panther, Godzilla, The Avengers and many other movies have been shot, most often use actual equipment as props and will store them for future productions. FODAC, whose humanitarian and disaster relief efforts have been nationally recognized, picked up the pallets of donated equipment and delivered a tractor-trailer full of supplies to Grady Hospital. The hospital staff greeted and received the delivery with safely-distanced appreciation and applause.

The Hanson Group Pivots to Manufacture Hand Sanitizer for
First Responders

Guardian Sports develops superior protective gear for athletes and is a subsidiary of The Hanson Group, a polymer and chemical manufacturer. Both companies were founded by Erin and Lee Hanson, who not only have demonstrated a passion for protecting athletes, but also for emergency workers and first responders. 

The Hanson Group, which is located within Gateway85 CID, adapted their lab to produce hand sanitizer en masse at a significant discount to provide to organizations in need. While the CDC recommends at least 60% alcohol to be effective, Guardian Sports’ solution far exceeds the bare minimum. While not a gel, the solution can be used as a spray and is applicable to both hands and surfaces. Another CID, Tucker Summit, purchased 50 gallons of hand sanitizer to donate to DeKalb County’s first responders.

For hand sanitizer refills on other FDA approved medical supplies, please visit the Guardian Sports website.

The City of Norcross and The Global Mall Feed Families

In a special initiative by Mayor Craig Newton, the City of Norcross has partnered with local restaurants and The Global Mall, led by Gateway85 board chairman Shiv Aggarwal, to feed families in need during the novel coronavirus outbreak. Families can receive free meals from 1 – 3 p.m. each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday through Sunday, May 3, although The Global Mall is looking to expand if other restaurants want to participate.

The food is pre-packaged and sanitized with servers wearing protective gear and can be picked up in a drive-through contactless format. For more information on this special initiative please read this Gwinnett Daily Post article.

Other acts of kindness include food truck owner and chef Hank Reid of Lettum Eat!, which is helping to feed those in need in Gwinnett. He will be at The Nett Church, 5320 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Norcross, on Friday from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. See the full story here.

Furloughed Workers as Volunteers

Mike Hall, owner of Georgia Furniture Mart, formerly Underpriced Furniture, called Emory Morsberger to offer his 40 furloughed employees for volunteer activities around the CID if needed. His employees, while unable to work in the retail store, wanted to help. Hall and Morsberger are looking at various options.

GATEWAY85 BRAND AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT VIDEO FEATURING DAVID FINCHER

If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of joining the Gateway85 Community Improvement District, we encourage you to watch this short video of David Fincher, chancellor and former president of Greater Atlanta Christian School, and one of the CID’s biggest supporters. See what progress the CID has made in the area since its founding in 2005 and the projects David believes have had the most impact on the district.

LOUISE RADLOFF RUNS FOR RE-ELECTION

Louise Radloff, shown above at the 2018 Quarry Crusher Run, is running for re-election.

When Louise Radloff first joined the Gwinnett Board of Education nearly 47 years ago, the school system was rural with only 17,000 students. During her time on the board, she has seen tremendous growth to more than 185,000 students as well as growth in diversity and the use of technology, and as a result she has seen amazing challenges and rewards as the system continues to grow and improve.

While Gwinnett County has great stability and leadership supporting the Board of Education, Radloff is concerned about students falling behind which is why one of her main platforms is mandatory kindergarten prior to entering the first grade. 

In addition, Radloff is grateful that the County had established its online curriculum, initially created for the rare snow days encountered, but is now necessary during the COVID-19 quarantine. She feels that the teachers have really stepped up and she can’t imagine what they would have done had this online system not been in place. 

Radloff credits the County’s educational successes to the Board’s ability to work together with the superintendent and the support they receive from the County and organizations like Gateway85 CID (which she has supported since its formation). 

“Pulling together for the future of Gwinnett is what we are all about,” said Radloff regarding their cooperation.

PROJECT UPDATES

The Incredible Corridor

Pond and Company has kicked off the 6.6 mile Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Mountain Industrial Boulevard corridor study between I-85 and East Ponce de Leon Avenue in a joint effort between Gwinnett County, Gateway85 CID, Lilburn CID, Tucker Summit CID and the City of Tucker, following the initial coordinating meeting on March 26. Coordination with Pond and Company is ongoing and another update will be provided in the May newsletter.

Freight Cluster Study

The freight study steering committee held a meeting on March 25, 2020, and several reports have been completed for this review cycle and approvals are anticipated by the end of April.

Your feedback is very important to this study, please go to gateway85gwinnett.metroquest.com/  to complete a survey. The first draft of recommendations is anticipated to be provided in early May.

Results from the study will provide project ideas for an anticipated $2 trillion dollar infrastructure program to be announced soon. The CID is preparing to go after the funding with a list of projects once we are provided guidance from GDOT and ARC on available federal monies.

Sidewalks and Lighting Continue

Sidewalk construction along Britt Rd. began in January this year and is approximately 65% complete with the addition of trees already finished. The half-mile+ sidewalk is expected to be complete at the end of May.

The CID has also designed and completed a half-mile stretch of sidewalk along Indian Trail Rd. that connects Dickens Rd. to Steve Reynolds Boulevard.

Phase I of the Lighting District has been completed along Jimmy Carter Boulevard, including 34 pedestrian lights and 26 streetlights stretching from Brook Hollow Parkway to Live Oak Parkway. Installation of the lighting district continues with Phase II from Live Oak Parkway to Rockbridge Road, including 26 pedestrian lights and five streetlights. Phase II is scheduled to be installed in 2020.

CONNECT WITH US

For more project updates and news surrounding Gateway85 CID, follow or like us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram or visit gateway85.com. If you have news to share, please contact Victoria Smith at victoria@gateway85.com or 770-449-6524.

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