(Lawrenceville, Ga., July 10, 2026) – The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners acted on several important initiatives in June. Highlights include updating the Economic Development Ordinance, the acceptance of grant funds for court-administered treatment and intervention programs and reallocating federal funds for local housing assistance.  

Economic Development Ordinance updated to add affordable housing incentives
The Board approved the first major update since 2008 to the County's Economic Development Ordinance, renaming it the Economic Development and Housing Incentives Ordinance. 

The revised ordinance expands its focus to include affordable housing and mixed-use development, introduces a five-tier incentive system based on project investment and job creation and creates a new tax incentive structure targeting affordable housing at 60% of area median income. The update also expands targeted redevelopment zones and refreshes the list of key industries. These changes aim to keep Gwinnett competitive and adaptable to changing economic conditions.

County courts secure more than $1.1 million in grants to fund treatment programs  
The Board approved the acceptance of more than $1.1 million in state grants from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to fund eight court-administered treatment and intervention programs. The funding supports a range of accountability programs, such as Adult Drug Court, DUI Court, Mental Health Court, Veterans Court and several juvenile programs, covering personnel, treatment services, drug testing and training. 

These programs have helped hundreds of Gwinnett County residents. The Adult Drug Court celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and has more than 538 graduates to date. DUI Court has graduated 862 participants since its founding, while Mental Health Court, Veterans Court and multiple juvenile programs collectively serve dozens of active participants and have produced hundreds more graduates. Most of the accepted grants are 85% state funded, with a 15% County match provided through existing employee salaries.

Federal housing funds to be reallocated for local housing assistance  
Unspent federal housing funds were reprogrammed to support housing assistance for Gwinnett residents. Reallocated funds will be used to rehabilitate 20 homes for income-qualified homeowners, provide down payment assistance for 36 first-time homebuyers, and support emergency shelter services through a local nonprofit provider. Commissioners approved submitting updated federal action plans to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, enabling the rerouting of these grant funds before they are reclaimed. The funds originated from the federally funded Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships and Emergency Solutions Grant programs.   

Police Department to upgrade aging bomb squad robots with federal grant 
The Board of Commissioners approved acceptance of a federal grant up to $132,750 to upgrade tools used by Gwinnett Police’s Hazardous Devices Unit. Funded through the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Urban Area Security Initiative, this grant will modernize two robots used primarily to locate and disable explosive devices and by the SWAT team to breach doors, locate suspects and gather intelligence during barricaded subject      incidents. The two 20-year-old robots will be upgraded with new battery packages, a control laptop and radio assembly.    

Contracts approved for widening of Buford Drive, pedestrian safety improvements
Commissioners approved three transportation contracts for road widening and pedestrian safety improvements across the county, all funded by the 2017 SPLOST Program. Backbone Infrastructure LLC was awarded a $4.8 million contract to add a third northbound lane on Buford Drive/State Route 20 from Rock Springs Road to I-85, along with new sidewalks, curb and gutter and drainage improvements. Hasbun Construction LLC received a $3.7 million contract for sidewalks along Buford Highway and a right-turn lane extension on Kilgore Road at Patrick Elementary. CMC Inc. was awarded $1.9 million to add a new right-turn lane on River Drive at North River Drive by Knight Elementary as well as sidewalks on Everson Road, Quinn Ridge Drive and Oak Road. It also includes a water main replacement on Oak Road that is funded by the County water and sewer funds.