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- Gwinnett Buys the Land, Sells the Story — Redevelopment Meets Reputation
Gwinnett Buys the Land, Sells the Story — Redevelopment Meets Reputation
Gwinnett County is flexing its growth muscle. From multimillion-dollar public projects to strategic moves by local businesses, the region is doing what most cities fail to: investing in its future. Suwanee’s amphitheater isn’t just about music — it’s urban planning with ROI. Meanwhile, schools are seeing attendance jump thanks to infrastructure and mental health investments (crazy idea, I know: care about kids). Throw in a food festival, and you’ve got a case study in civic competence. It’s not sexy. It’s smart. And that’s rare.
Travis Cooper
September 08, 2025
📰 Top Story
Gwinnett Acquires Former Sears Site at Gwinnett Place Mall
Gwinnett County is making a decisive move in how suburban redevelopment should be done — not by reacting to market forces, but by owning the board.
On September 5, the county’s Urban Redevelopment Agency approved the $11.5 million acquisition of the former Sears property at Gwinnett Place Mall. The 11.5-acre site brings the county’s total public ownership in the area to 87.5 acres.
This isn’t just land — it’s leverage. It signals a pivot from fragmented, developer-driven proposals to a cohesive, publicly-led urban transformation.
Every Friday from May 30 through September 19, Town Green becomes Live & Loud Fridays—a free, high-energy concert series where local bands deliver rock, pop, funk, country, and blues under the stars. It’s not just music—it’s community capital: the kind of grassroots atmosphere that builds cohesion, foot traffic, and city pride.
Check It Out 👉
💸 Local Deal of the Day – Monday, Sept. 8, 2025
🍦 DQ Blizzard Bonanza: Get a Small Blizzard for Just 85¢!
Fall's cooler air just met its match. Dairy Queen is serving up a sweet deal:
👉 Get a small Blizzard for only 85¢ when you spend $1+ through the DQ App.
Whether you’re craving Oreo, Cookie Dough, or Pumpkin Pie (yes, it’s back), now’s the time to treat yourself.
📱 Offer available to DQ Rewards members via the DQ Mobile App
📍 All participating Gwinnett County locations
🗓️ Valid Sept. 8–21, 2025
💬 No code needed — just order through the app
Together With
🔥 Crispy, juicy, unapologetically Southern — Southern Clucks serves up next-level chicken that hits different. Swing by today and taste why locals call it “Gwinnett’s crunch capital
📰 Top Story
🧠 #BecomeGwinnett Wins Big — Because Storytelling Is Strategy
Partnership Gwinnett just earned a Savvy Award from the 3CMA for its #BecomeGwinnett campaign — and for good reason. In the age of information overload, cutting through the noise is the new superpower. And Gwinnett’s campaign didn’t just cut — it converted.
Over 5 months, this county-level initiative:
Drove a 186% increase in social followers
Hit 2.5 million+ impressions
Spiked website traffic by 616%
📲 Geotargeted ads.
📹 Scroll-stopping videos.
📈 Clear outcomes.
This wasn’t marketing fluff — it was strategic narrative that turned brand equity into economic gravity.
🧩 Why This Matters
This wasn’t a tourism campaign. This was economic development rebranded.
Gwinnett needs more than roads and zoning plans — it needs talent, capital, and next-gen business presence. The #BecomeGwinnett campaign positioned the county as exactly that:
✔️ A place to build
✔️ A place to hire
✔️ A place to stay
When community identity becomes a differentiator, you're not just telling a story — you're shifting demand curves.
📚🎧 Reading & Listening
Daily Recommendation
Ideas are assets. The right book or podcast isn’t just content—it’s leverage. Each day we’ll point you to something worth your time: a read that sharpens your edge or a listen that compounds your thinking. No fluff, no filler—just insights that move the needle.
 Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business by Femi Otedola |  Voice of Business by the Gwinnett Chamber, hosted by Nick Masino |
That’s it for today…
-Your Nosey Neighbor
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