As Gwinnett County celebrates small businesses as the bedrock of our community during Small Business Week, the Board of Commissioners have established a formal definition of “Local Small Business,” advancing the County’s efforts to expand access to contracting opportunities and strengthen participation from the local business community.

Under the adopted resolution, a “Local Small Business” is defined as an independently owned and operated business with 100 or fewer employees or $10 million or less in annual gross receipts. The business must also have a physical location and occupational certification within Gwinnett County.

“Defining ‘local small business’ allows us to be more strategic in how we expand access to County contracting opportunities,” said Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. “This is about aligning our procurement practices with our values – fairness, transparency, and creating pathways for local businesses to grow and compete.”

This action is part of the County’s Procurement Readiness and Opportunity Plan (PRO Plan), which seeks to strengthen how the County engages with local small businesses in furtherance of its strategic goals.

The PRO Plan seeks to support local small businesses who are preparing to engage in County contracting opportunities through expanded access, visibility, education, and resources.

The adoption comes ahead of Gwinnett’s Supplier Networking and Resource Fair, which will be held on May 14 at the Gas South Convention Center in Duluth. The event will provide small businesses with direct access to County buyers, contracting officers, and regional partners.