Partnership Gwinnett: How It Supports Business Growth Around Atlanta

If you live in the Atlanta metro area—especially on the northeast side—you’ve probably heard the name Partnership Gwinnett come up in conversations about business relocation, incentives, or economic development. For anyone looking to start, expand, or move a business near Atlanta, understanding what Partnership Gwinnett is (and isn’t) can make planning much easier.

Below is a clear guide to how Partnership Gwinnett works, how it fits into Atlanta’s business and meetings ecosystem, and how you can use its programs and connections to your advantage.

What Is Partnership Gwinnett?

Partnership Gwinnett is a public–private economic development initiative focused on Gwinnett County, which borders Atlanta’s northeast side. It works closely with Gwinnett County Government, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, local cities, and private companies to:

• Attract new businesses and corporate headquarters
• Help existing companies expand
• Connect businesses with incentives, workforce resources, and local contacts
• Promote Gwinnett as part of the greater Metro Atlanta business market

Although its focus is Gwinnett County, it’s highly relevant if you:

• Operate in Atlanta but want more space or lower costs nearby
• Need suburban office, industrial, or tech space with strong access to I‑85, Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, or SR 316
• Plan corporate meetings, training, or operations that draw from the Atlanta talent pool but prefer a Gwinnett setting

Partnership Gwinnett is not a chamber of commerce itself, but it is closely linked with the Gwinnett Chamber, which handles memberships, networking events, and many business programs.

How Partnership Gwinnett Fits into the Atlanta Business Landscape

Part of the Larger Metro Atlanta Ecosystem

Atlanta’s business environment includes several major players:

• Invest Atlanta – focuses on economic development within the City of Atlanta
• Metro Atlanta Chamber – regional advocacy and marketing
• Local city economic development offices – e.g., Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Peachtree Corners, Duluth, etc.
• County-level initiatives – such as Partnership Gwinnett for Gwinnett County

If you think of Metro Atlanta as a hub-and-spoke region, Atlanta is the core hub, and Gwinnett is one of the most active spokes for corporate offices, tech, and light industrial. Partnership Gwinnett’s role is to:

• Position Gwinnett as a complement to in-town Atlanta
• Highlight development opportunities along I‑85, SR 316, and the Infinite Energy Center / Gas South District area
• Connect companies with local governments in Gwinnett cities like Duluth, Lawrenceville, Peachtree Corners, Norcross, and Suwanee

For many Atlanta-based companies, Gwinnett is where they add a second facility, move a back-office operation, or host training and meetings closer to where many employees live.

Core Services: What Partnership Gwinnett Can Help With

1. Site Selection and Expansion Assistance

For businesses looking in or around Atlanta, site selection is often the starting point. Partnership Gwinnett typically assists with:

• Identifying available sites and buildings – office, flex, tech space, and industrial
• Coordinating tours and introductions with local brokers and developers
• Providing market data on labor, commute patterns, and nearby amenities
• Helping compare Gwinnett locations to other parts of Metro Atlanta

This can be especially helpful if:

• You’re based in-town Atlanta but need more affordable warehouse or flex space
• You want a suburban office with parking and quick highway access for employees who commute from Northeast Atlanta, Dekalb, Hall, or Barrow County
• You are considering relocating from another state and want to understand how Gwinnett compares to central Atlanta

2. Incentive Programs and Local Support

Partnership Gwinnett works with Gwinnett County Government and municipal governments to help businesses understand and access incentive programs, which may include:

• Property tax incentives or abatements (where available and eligible)
• Job creation-based incentives coordinated through county or state partners
• Local assistance with infrastructure, zoning, and permitting
• Connections to state-level incentives often administered through Georgia’s Department of Economic Development

For businesses already in Atlanta, this can matter if you’re:

• Weighing the cost of expanding inside the City of Atlanta versus in Gwinnett
• Considering Gwinnett locations for a regional office, data center, or distribution facility

📝 Tip: Incentives are usually performance-based. You’ll typically need to commit to certain job, payroll, or investment levels. Partnership Gwinnett often helps navigate these conversations so you can see whether moving part of your operation from Atlanta to Gwinnett is financially worthwhile.

3. Support for Key Target Industries

Partnership Gwinnett focuses heavily on industry sectors that are already strong in the Atlanta region, such as:

• Information technology and software (especially in areas like Peachtree Corners’ tech cluster)
• Advanced manufacturing and logistics along I‑85 and SR 316
• Life sciences and healthcare-related operations
• Corporate headquarters and professional services

If you work in these sectors in Atlanta and are considering a move or expansion, Partnership Gwinnett can:

• Introduce you to existing companies and industry networks in Gwinnett
• Help assess workforce availability from the Atlanta metro area
• Coordinate with local colleges, technical schools, and training partners like Gwinnett Technical College and nearby universities

4. Workforce and Talent Connections

Even if your main office remains in Atlanta, you may draw heavily from the Gwinnett talent pool, since many professionals commute into the city. Partnership Gwinnett helps companies by:

• Providing labor market overviews and wage ranges in the Gwinnett/Atlanta area
• Connecting employers with workforce development resources and training organizations
• Helping companies understand commute patterns and where employees are likely to live

This can help your HR and leadership teams decide whether:

• To open a satellite office closer to where employees live
• To host training or recruiting events in Gwinnett instead of downtown Atlanta

5. Support for Meetings, Conferences, and Corporate Events

While Partnership Gwinnett isn’t a convention bureau, it often works alongside local tourism and venue partners in Gwinnett. This matters for Atlanta-based organizations that want:

• Offsite meetings and retreats outside the city core
• Large spaces for trade shows, expos, or training that still feel connected to Atlanta

Popular Gwinnett venues that draw Atlanta audiences include:

• Gas South District (formerly Infinite Energy Center) in Duluth – arena, convention center, and performing arts center
• City-based venues and hotels in Duluth, Peachtree Corners, and Lawrenceville

Partnership Gwinnett can be a strategic contact point if you’re planning a meeting with an eye toward business attraction, local suppliers, or public officials, especially when those events support expansion or relocation decisions.

Partnership Gwinnett vs. Other Atlanta-Area Organizations

Here’s a simple comparison to clarify who does what when you’re making business decisions in or around Atlanta:

If your project is inside Atlanta city limits, you’ll likely interact more with Invest Atlanta. If you’re exploring suburban options near Atlanta, especially on the northeast side, Partnership Gwinnett becomes more central.

Who Should Consider Working with Partnership Gwinnett?

Atlanta-Based Companies Planning to Expand

If you already have a presence in Atlanta and are:

• Running out of space in Midtown, Downtown, or Buckhead
• Looking for a lower-cost but still high-quality office or industrial location
• Wanting to place a facility closer to employees who live in Gwinnett, Dekalb, Hall, or Barrow Counties

Partnership Gwinnett can walk you through:

• Available sites and buildings
• Potential incentives or local support
• Whether a Gwinnett location makes sense compared to staying in Atlanta proper

Companies Outside Georgia Considering the Atlanta Region

Many out-of-state or international firms look at “Atlanta” as a single destination but may ultimately choose a suburban county like Gwinnett. If your decision-makers are flying into Atlanta to scout locations:

• Partnership Gwinnett can help coordinate visits to major employment corridors in Gwinnett
• You can compare time-to-downtown and airport access to other Metro Atlanta submarkets
• It can act as a bridge between you, local city officials, and state-level agencies

Local Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses

While Partnership Gwinnett’s primary focus tends to be larger projects and job-creating investments, local business owners may still benefit by:

• Getting direction on which city or resource to contact for permits or zoning
• Learning about business support ecosystems in Gwinnett and greater Atlanta
• Being introduced to partners such as the Gwinnett Chamber, Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), or local incubators and innovation spaces

If your small business is firmly inside the City of Atlanta, you might work more closely with:

• Invest Atlanta
• Atlanta-area SBDC offices
• Neighborhood-focused or city-focused business organizations

But if you operate close to the Gwinnett line or want to move operations there, Partnership Gwinnett becomes more relevant.

Practical Tips for Atlanta-Area Businesses Considering Gwinnett

Here are a few practical steps if you’re in or near Atlanta and think Partnership Gwinnett might be useful:

1. Clarify your geography.

   • Are you inside Atlanta city limits, elsewhere in Fulton/DeKalb, or already in Gwinnett?
   • This helps determine whether Invest Atlanta, Partnership Gwinnett, or another office should be your primary contact.

2. Define your project type.

   • Expansion, relocation, new facility, headquarters, R&D, or logistics?
   • Know your estimated jobs, square footage, and investment; incentive and support conversations often start here.

3. Map your workforce.

   • Where do your employees currently live?
   • If you’re pulling heavily from northeast metro counties, a Gwinnett location may cut commute times and improve retention.

4. Compare incentives and total costs.

   • Incentives alone shouldn’t drive a decision.
   • Consider rent, taxes, commute, customer access, and future growth potential in both Atlanta and Gwinnett.

5. Coordinate with multiple partners.

   • For a major project, it’s normal to talk with Partnership Gwinnett, Invest Atlanta, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber as you evaluate options across the region.

Where Partnership Gwinnett Fits for Meetings and Corporate Events

While you’ll typically work with hotels, venues, and tourism bureaus for event logistics, Partnership Gwinnett is worth considering when:

• Your meeting relates to site selection, expansion, or exploring the region
• You’re hosting executives from outside Atlanta to evaluate the area
• You want to combine a corporate meeting with tours of available real estate or nearby business facilities

In those cases, they can help:

• Arrange briefings about the local business climate
• Set up introductions to city officials or relevant partners
• Provide context on Gwinnett’s role in the Metro Atlanta economy

Key Takeaways for Atlanta Residents and Visitors

• Partnership Gwinnett is an economic development initiative focused on Gwinnett County, directly connected to the greater Atlanta business region.
• It primarily helps with business attraction, expansion, incentives, and strategic site selection, especially for mid-size and large projects.
• If you are based in Atlanta and looking for suburban space, different cost structures, or access to a large northeast metro workforce, Partnership Gwinnett can be a central resource.
• For in-city projects within Atlanta’s boundaries, Invest Atlanta is usually the main point of contact, but regional projects often involve both organizations.
• For meetings and corporate events, Partnership Gwinnett may not handle bookings but can be a valuable partner when events intersect with business growth, relocation, or investment decisions.

Understanding where Partnership Gwinnett fits in Atlanta’s broader network of incentive programs and chambers helps you make more informed choices about where to locate, grow, and convene your business in the Metro Atlanta area.