From left are Nick Masino, president and CEO, Gwinnett Chamber and Partnership Gwinnett; Dean Collins, 2023 Board Chair and President and Founder of Axis Companies; Sheetal Desai, USPAACC-SE President; and Lissa Miller, the USPAACC Southeast Chapter’s Chairwoman and Head of Supplier Diversity with Truist.
The Gwinnett Chamber and Partnership Gwinnett signed its sixth memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a local Asian American-focused chamber of commerce. This pact was signed with the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Region, recognizing the intent of these organizations to collaborate, champion, and drive global business in both the region and abroad.
Founded in 1984, USPAACC-SE represents Asian American and Asian American-related groups in business, sciences, the arts, sports, education, public, and community services. USPAACC-SE serves as a thought leader with over 30 years of track record in business matchmaking, fostering strong partnerships among corporations, government, and Asian American businesses in the Southeast Region. Asian Americans make up over 13% of Gwinnett’s population, and Gwinnett is the leading county in the Southeast U.S. for Asian American-owned and operated businesses, including international businesses.
Sheetal Desai, president of USPAACC-SE, says: “There is definite synergy between the chambers and we know that this partnership will provide our members greater access to resources to better their businesses. We look forward to a long-lasting relationship that will equip our members to succeed in constantly changing economic climates.”
Gwinnett Library offers program for former inmates
The Gwinnett County Public Library is now accepting applications for its next New Start Entrepreneurship Incubator Program (NSEI). This program provides business education for formerly incarcerated individuals through in-person classes, online coursework, and a robust network of mentors and community partners.
NSEI is specifically geared towards the re-entry population, which, in Georgia, is disproportionately minority populations and people of color. This six-month course is designed to help community members who have served time in jail or prison create and sustain their own businesses.
Charles Pace, executive director of the Gwinnett County Public Library, says: “Formerly incarcerated individuals are an overlooked population of aspiring entrepreneurs, often lacking the means, access, and support to launch a small business successfully.”
NSEI originated as a grant project in 2021, funded by Google in partnership with the American Library Association.
Coordinated by a team of five library staff members, NSEI includes cohorts of 15 to 20 students who attend monthly presentations by local business experts on topics such as finance, marketing, licensing, and writing a business plan. Following each meeting, participants complete assigned online coursework and receive one-on-one support from experienced small business mentors. The library provides free laptops and Wi-Fi service to those who need them.
The program’s culmination occurs at Launchpad, where the young entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to community business leaders. In 2023, the Gwinnett County Public
Library Foundation awarded $5,000 to the top three entrepreneurs. As of January 2023, the program has graduated 29 entrepreneurs. The most successful graduate has 14 full-time employees and operates a commercial cleaning business
Indian community has “Festival of Lights” Oct. 28-29
A two-day festival is being held to kick off the celebration of the holiday of Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, at Global Mall in Norcross on October 28-29 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Opening ceremonies will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. This event at the Global Mall was first launched in May, 2002, and has become an annual celebration for the Indian community living in the Greater Atlanta area. Authentic Indian food will be available for purchase during both days.
Renova Technology to mark expansion on Oct. 24
Renova Technology, Inc., an after-market repair services company, will celebrate the recent expansion of its supply chain operations highlighting the company’s $600,000 capital investment in Gwinnett. The event will be October 24 at 8:30 a.m. at 1425 Oakbrook Parkway in Norcross. Facility tours will be available following the ceremony. Renova willadd 30 new jobs including customer service, marketing, repair, and sales positions.
Speakers for this event include Gwinnett County District 1 Commissioner Kirkland Carden, Renova Technology CEO Jonathan Pine, Gateway85 CID Executive Director Emory Morsberger, and leaders from the Partnership Gwinnett economic and community development initiative.
Duluth kids break ground on new Gigglebark tree
By Talore Ruedt
The City of Duluth, Georgia broke ground recently for the much-anticipated playable art project. It is a testament to the community’s creativity and the spirit of play. This unique project, the Gigglebark Tree playground, has captured the imagination of residents across Gwinnett County.
In 2022, the City of Duluth invited Gwinnett County residents of all ages to submit drawings of their dream pieces of playable art for the Playground Design Contest. Among the 175+ entries, designs ranged from sea creatures to tree houses, pirate ships to crash-landed satellites, and musical instruments to giant animals. The youngest artist with one of the ideas was just three years old.
The Mayor and Council studied the top nine designs to determine their top three, with the winning design, submitted by Lyn-Nell Huffman, inspired by a willow tree, which became the foundation for what the city is calling the Gigglebark Tree.
The Gigglebark Tree playground is a visually stunning combination of several trees. It boasts the colorful bark of a Eucalyptus, the twisting roots of an Overcup Oak, and the swaying branches of a Willow Tree. What sets this playable art apart is the inclusion of a slide winding around the trunk and a root system with steps and tunnels. To add a touch of enchantment, the willow-like branches will illuminate the playground, creating a magical ambiance for all who visit.
Breaking ground was anything but ordinary. In a whimsical turn of events, as the mayor and council, with help from kids, turned the spades.
Mayor Nancy Harris says: “Duluth has always been a place where art and play converge. The Gigglebark Tree is a symbol of our commitment to fostering creativity, nurturing our green spaces, and ensuring that all generations can find joy right here in our city.”
The Gigglebark Tree Playground is an extension of the existing Taylor Park playground in Downtown Duluth. While it’s always bittersweet to say goodbye to old trees, some of them had to be removed due to disease, and their tendency to drop branches and pecans, making them unsuitable for a children’s play area. However, the City is committed to maintaining the natural beauty of the area and plans to work with an arborist to plant new, safe trees once the playground is complete.
Rainbow Village breaks fundraising records at 2023 Gala
Duluth’s Rainbow Village’s 2023 We Are Family Benefit Gala recently raised $505,000 in its largest fundraiser ever. The amount eclipsed all previous records and will help in supporting Rainbow Village’s mission to bring “Help, Hope, Housing, and Healing” to families experiencing homelessness. At the gala, the Joel P. Hudson Humanitarian Award was presented to Subaru of Gwinnett. Holding their “Share the Love” awards are, from left, Julie Adams, warranty administrator at Subaru Gwinnett, Rainbow Village CEO Melanie Conner and Jennifer Kessler, general manager at Subaru of Gwinnett.
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