Gwinnett County and the state of Georgia recently announced plans for a nearly 2,000-acre “knowledge community” called Rowen along Highway 316 just east of Dacula. The community will include a combination of offices, research facilities, public spaces, and residences.

The Development Authority of Gwinnett County and the Board of Commissioners authorized $70 million in bonds during separate special called meetings August 25 to purchase the majority of the Rowen site and fund associated infrastructure. The Development Authority also agreed to provide funds annually to the Rowen Foundation, which will manage the project until it becomes self-sustaining.

Watch this short introductory video to learn more about the project.

The project is intended to bring together public institutions and private industries to foster innovation in three focal areas: agriculture, medical, and environmental sciences.

“By planning to focus on three of our state’s historic economic drivers and areas of expertise — agriculture, the environment, and medicine — Rowen has the potential to create a new chapter of discovery and innovation that will enrich the state of Georgia for many years to come,” said Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. “This project holds tremendous promise as an exceptional addition to our strong economic development portfolio.”

The development will be located in eastern Gwinnett County with more than 2 miles of frontage on each side of SR 316. The location — equidistant from Atlanta, Athens, and Gainesville — is within an hour of more than 50 research and educational institutions and an easy drive from more than 50 Fortune 1000 headquarters. Substantial infrastructure improvements are planned or underway along SR 316, which will enhance the site’s connectivity to the region.

“The most important job for leaders is to carefully consider the future of their community,” said Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash. “The board has been seeking an opportunity that can create impacts not just for our current residents, but their children and grandchildren. By partnering with our Development Authority and the Rowen Foundation, we can achieve that goal while also preserving and allowing access to some of our community’s most spectacular natural environments.”

The project will incorporate the land’s natural forests and hills within its design and will preserve hundreds of acres of greenspace. Some parcels of land in the project area are already controlled by the County or the Rowen Foundation, while much of the land is in the process of being acquired.

Currently in the planning and partnerships phase, activity is planned to begin in the fourth quarter of this year with construction of initial infrastructure starting in 2022. Initial tenant recruitment and construction is slated for 2023.

Learn more about Rowen at RowenLife.com.