Together with elected Officials and board members, the community – led by a steering committee of key stakeholders – revealed a strategy for future development as well as an implementation plan to accomplish the goals therein.
“This plan is a result of City Council’s vision for the City of Lawrenceville and serves as the voice of our community,” said Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson. “We recognized a compelling need to foster an environment that will attract jobs and raise the quality of life Lawrenceville already enjoys today.”
The fundamental purpose of the strategic plan is to set the standards and a pace necessary for Lawrenceville’s continued growth, advancement and development. The plan outlines six economic development goals that inherently reflect the community’s specific needs – supported by statistical trends, community input and market data.
RKG Associates, Inc. – an Atlanta-based multi-disciplined consulting firm –spearheaded the process to derive the plan under the direction of a select group of key stakeholders identified as the plan’s Steering Committee. Members of the steering committee include:
· Phil Wolfe, Gwinnett Medical Center
· Stas Preczewski, Georgia Gwinnett College
· Jennifer Stephens, Georgia Gwinnett College
· Anthony Rodriguez, Aurora Theatre
· Bryan Lackey, Gwinnett County Planning & Development
· Nick Masino, Partnership Gwinnett
· Clint Dixon, US Auto Sales
· Beverly Dryden, Lawrenceville Neighborhood Alliance
· Carolyn Wright, Historic Lawrenceville Business Alliance
· David Still, Downtown Development Authority
· Kevin Cleveland, RACO General Contractors
· Brad Cox, Brad Cox Inc./Resident/Property Owner
· Maryanne Grimes, Central Gwinnett High School
· Allen Hoskyn, Impact 46
· Herman Pennamon, Jr., Pennamon Consulting
· Leijla Slowinski, Lawrenceville Housing Authority
· Ronnie Ford, Atlanta Attachment Company
· Joanie Perry, Georgia Dept. of Community Affairs/Downtown Resident
Development of the plan is the first step in an ongoing process to implement a vision and a future for Lawrenceville. Multiple different studies, the City’s comprehensive plan, statewide initiatives like the Main Street Program, and Gwinnett County’s economic development initiative, Partnership Gwinnett, were among the elements researched to create a starting point for implementation and execution.
“Preparing this plan was truly a collaborative effort,” said Lisa Sherman, Director of Community and Economic Development at the City of Lawrenceville. “Next steps include forming an advisory board, organizing the tasks recommended within the plan and creating the accountability necessary to ensure the execution and progress of the plan happen.”
Citizens, neighbors and visitors of Lawrenceville can download and read the plan at http://www.lawrencevillega.org/userfiles/file/City-of-Lawrenceville-Economic-Development-Strategic-Plan.pdf.
