By John Snyder | “Global investors are looking toward Atlanta.”
This was the headline of an article in the Dec. 23, 2015 AJC, dealing with the regional economy and what major investors are looking for. These investors, both national and international, are impressed with the variety of business-to-business technologies the area possesses. They view Atlanta as a fertile ground for investing thanks to the Advance Technology Development Center and the Atlanta Tech Village. This region is looked upon favorably as being supportive of technology growth.
Snyder
However, if we as a region want to continue succeeding, it will require maintaining and developing more infrastructure projects along with having investment in these project increased to attract and maintain talent, investors, entrepreneurs coupled with Fortune 500 companies.
Mobility is a key element of this strategy as more and more of the Fortune 500 companies demand access to mass transit. We, as a region, and as a county, Gwinnett, must come to the realization that the time for foot dragging is over, whether it is a possible conflict with other projects or a reactionary opinion by some voter elements.
We as a county have already suffered multiple business losses of Fortune 500 companies, most recently NCR moving from Gwinnett. We, as citizens of Gwinnett, either business owners or workers, cannot and must not allow this trend to continue.
A short-sighted view on regional mass transit is affecting each and every one of Gwinnett County business owners and workers. When a Fortune 500 company either relocates to Atlanta from Gwinnett County or passes on building here, this is a major drawback. When they do not move their headquarters because of our county elected officials refusal to do what is needed with mass transit to improve our county, we in Gwinnett County are suffering. This is the effect of unnecessary obstacles to the attractiveness of locations when being analyzed by Fortune 500 companies.
The longer we wait for change, the more we as a county lose on employment opportunities, increased taxes, expanding our colleges, and funding for charities in the county. Naysayers cannot dictate anymore what is going to be funded.
We citizens of Gwinnett County have the power to fix this, whether it involves conversations with our commissioners or using the power of the ballot to end this direction of ultimate disaster. We need commission members who look to increase the success of all peoples of the county.
Follow Us