Economic Development

As Gwinnett County's largest city, Peachtree Corners is a regional technology hub about 30 minutes north of Atlanta. The city is vibrant and growing, with leadership focused on comprehensive, well-conceived planning and meaningful development. One unique aspect of conducting business in Peachtree Corners is the low cost. There is a zero millage rate in Peachtree Corners which means no municipal property taxes - either for commercial or residential property. No other city in the metro Atlanta area can make this claim.

Easy access to Interstate 85 and a short drive to the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, make Peachtree Corners especially attractive to international companies, corporations and small businesses. Many occupy Technology Park/Atlanta, a campus of low-rise office buildings nestled in a wooded, 500-acre parcel between two major thoroughfares.

In addition to the more than 42,000 people who call Peachtree Corners home, the city is the headquarters of numerous technology and life sciences companies including Intuitive Surgical, a robotic-assisted surgical systems manufacturer; Soliant, a leading healthcare and education staffing provider; and the transdermal research and development company, 4P Therapeutics. It is also the regional headquarters of large, national and international companies including Comcast, Crawford and Co., Valmet, and Akesogen/Tempus, a leader in artificial intelligence and precision medicine.

A 20-acre Town Center was completed in 2019, creating a place for the community to gather. The Town Center, with its 2-acre Town Green, is at the heart of the city's Entertainment District. An outdoor amphitheater, children's play area, and well-known eateries routinely draw thousands of people. While the Town Center is bustling, the waters of the Chattahoochee River provide a place to unwind and rejuvenate the soul. Fishermen enjoy trout fishing in the river for much of the year. Other recreational activity include a multiuse trail system which starts in Tech Park and will ultimately loop 12 miles around the city.

Demographics

• Population: 42,243
• Median Age: 36

Race

• White: 49.7%
• Black: 24.4%
• Asian: 9.3%
• Hispanic or Latino: 16.2%
• All Others: 1.9%
• Families with children: 33.5%

(U.S. Census 2020 population estimate)

1. No Millage Rate

In surrounding metro cities, a commercial property (business) assessed at $1,000,000 pays annually city property taxes of:

• $10,230 in City of Atlanta (10.230 mills)
• $5,749 in Norcross (5.749 mills)
• $6,551 in Duluth (6.551 mills)
• $0 in Peachtree Corners

2. Great Schools

• Simpson Elementary students outscored county and state averages for Milestone testing by at least 20 percentage points in every grade and subject
• At Wesleyan, 100% of students graduate and are accepted to a 4-year university
• Both Duluth and Norcross high schools are AP Merit Schools, with roughly 27% of students taking AP courses
• Paul Duke STEM high school is the largest STEM certified high school in Georgia.Ninety-nine percent attend college after high school and twenty-three percent are in dual enrollment.

3. Excellent Amenities

• Access to the Chattahoochee River at three parks
• A 20-acre Town Center with a community green space, entertainment, and dining
• 112 Restaurants, 13 hotels

4. Robust Home Values

• The median home value in Peachtree Corners is $425,100, about 65% higher than Gwinnett County ($256,700) and more than twice as high as the state average ($206,700)

5. Affluent Community

• Mean income is $115,814 which is 7% higher than Gwinnett County ($108,056)
• More than 11% of households earns $200,000 or more

6. Educated Workforce

• More than 52% of people age 25 and over have a college degree, as compared with 40% in Gwinnett County and 34% in Georgia
• Approximately 24% of the workforce is employed in professional or financial fields

7. Committed Leadership

• Completion of 20-acre Town Center
• Completion of Curiosity Lab, an autonomous vehicle testing environment in Tech Park

8. A City in Great Financial Shape

• Recipient of various financial excellence awards

9. A Record of Success

• The Town Center opened in 2019
• Coding school launched in collaboration with Georgia Tech
• Certified City of Ethics, Certified Green Community, and Tree City USA
• Large international companies - Siemens, Soliant, and Molnlycke.

10. A High Energy, Focused Vision for the Future

• Holcomb Bridge Road Corridor Redevelopment
• Multiuse Trail system
• Curiosity Lab

Public Schools

Duluth High School

Duluth High School was acknowledged by the Georgia Department of Education as a 2017 Advanced Placement (AP) Honor School in five categories - AP Merit, STEM, AP STEM Achievement, AP Access and Support, and AP Humanities. The school holds a Blue Ribbon School award.

Enrollment is approximately 2,675 students, with roughly 46% enrolled in one or more AP courses. The graduation rate is 83 percent. Minority enrollment is 87 percent.

In 2017, U.S. News and World Report ranked Duluth High School in the top 35 public high schools in Georgia, with students exceeding the state and national averages for SAT and ACT scores.

Norcross High School

As a leading International Baccalaureate school in the state of Georgia, Norcross High School provides a world-class education to students, balancing rigorous academics with excellence in athletics and fine arts. Norcross High School began offering the prestigious International Baccalaureate program in 1999. U. S. News ranks the school at 100th in Georgia. The AP participation rate is 38 percent.

In February 2019, the Georgia Department of Education named all Gwinnett high schools as AP Honor Schools. NHS was among 272 schools from across the state to make the list.

The total minority enrollment is 87 percent. Norcross High School's graduation rate is 79 percent.

Paul Duke STEM School

The Paul Duke STEM High School was established in 2018 in the Norcross Cluster of Gwinnett County Public Schools. Using project-based learning as their primary instructional tool, teachers implore students to use Design Thinking to solve complex and interrelated problems. Enrollment in 2023 was 1,390, with 83 percent minority enrollment. The graduation rate is 93 percent. The most advanced students complete an AP Capstone Diploma program which prepares them for STEM-focused college majors. Approximately 23 percent of students are dual enrolled.

Peachtree Elementary School

Peachtree Elementary enrolls approximately 696 students in grades kindergarten through 5th. The school has received numerous awards at the national, state, and local levels. In addition to being selected as a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School, Peachtree Elementary is a 2-time winner of both the Georgia School of Excellence and Georgia Pay for Performance Awards. Peachtree has received the Distinguished Title 1 School award for eight consecutive years and is an International Baccalaureate School.

At Peachtree Elementary School, 30% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 26% scored at or above that level for reading. The school's minority student enrollment is 90%. The student-teacher ratio is 15:1.

Simpson Elementary School

Simpson Elementary enrolls 947 students and has consistently held high scores on local, state and standardized tests. In 2005, Simpson was one of three elementary schools in Gwinnett County to receive the State of Georgia's highest award - the Platinum Award for Excellence in achievement on the state assessment. Since then, the school has received the Platinum Award six years in a row. In 2010 and 2016, Simpson was named a Georgia School of Excellence. In 2018, Simpson was named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, for the second time. 63% of the staff holds a master's degree or higher. Simpson's Robotics team won the regional division in 2017.

Pinckneyville Middle School

Pinckneyville Middle enrolls 1,206 students and has been named a Georgia School of Excellence and a National Blue Ribbon School. For six years Pinckneyville has earned the State Department of Education Pay for Performance Grant. Pinckneyville students continually earn top honors in academic and fine arts competitions and the school has one of the highest gifted student populations in Gwinnett County. In order to provide a rigorous academic curriculum and to take advantage of the rich mixture of cultures, Pinckneyville implemented the International Baccalaureate Program in 2004. Pinckneyville students have the unique opportunity to take three years of a foreign language in middle school.

Private Schools

Wesleyan School

The Wesleyan School, located on an 85-acre campus, is a kindergarten through 12th-grade Christian college preparatory school with 1,206 students. Of the 145 faculty members, 68% have advanced degrees. The high school has 501 students, and is a member of the Georgia High School Association, competing in the AA classification. Student-teacher ratios are between 7:1 and 10:1. The average high school class size is 13. For nine years, the school has been listed as a Top Workplace by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Cornerstone Christian Academy

The Cornerstone Christian Academy was founded in 2001 and serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Cornerstone firmly believes that the total learning experience must be rooted not just in a rigorous math and science curriculum, but also in the development of writing skills and analytical thinking. The school was voted the best private middle school by Inside Gwinnett Magazine.

Greater Atlanta Christian School

Located not far from Peachtree Corners is the Greater Atlanta Christian School, a leading private school committed to offering the best for children in academics, fine arts, faith, and athletics (infants through 12th grade). Greater Atlanta Christian is an independent school in Georgia ranked at the top of the state for teaching quality, arts, and athletics. The school leads in AP curriculum options and exam pass rates, world language offerings, and STEM courses. The average student-teacher ratio is 11:1. The school received an A+ rating on Niche.com. It serves approximately 1,800 students with an average class size of 16. More than 82 percent of faculty hold advanced degrees, with 18 holding doctoral degrees.

Multi-Use Trail System

The city is constructing a multi-use trail system that will ultimately span 12 miles around the city and run directly through Technology Park. By linking Technology Park to residential and retail areas through the use of a multi-use trail, there are increased opportunities for walking or bicycling to work.

The first phase was opened in Technology Park. The second section was added shortly after near the Town Center. It is known as the Botanical Garden Walk and connects to the pedestrian bridge over Peachtree Parkway. By adding a multi-use trail, the city will build a healthier, more livable community and spur greater diversity in housing, while increasing connectivity to bus stops and businesses.

In November 2015, the city adopted a Trails and Open Space Preservation Ordinance providing an incentive for private land owners to donate property to the multiuse trail system. Under the ordinance, density credits are traded for trail land donations.

Gwinnett County Parks

One of the many benefits of living or working in Peachtree Corners is the award-winning park system. There are four Gwinnett County Parks in the city; Simpsonwood, Jones Bridge, Pinkneyville, and Holcomb Bridge Road. There are miles of walking trails along the Chattahoochee River, boat launches, athletic fields, as well as outdoor space for special events. The Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of recreational classes, adult and youth athletic programs, summer day camps, art classes, and senior recreational programs.

According to the 2017 Gwinnett Capital Improvement Plan, greenways and trails emerged as the highest priority need in the public input phase of the 2016 CIP Update. Currently, there are 35 parks in the county that provide residents with access to greenways and trails.

Chattahoochee River

Peachtree Corners has the longest stretch of the Chattahoochee River at its border of any city in Gwinnett County. Three units of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, part of the National Park Service system, are located in Peachtree Corners; the Medlock Bridge National Recreation Area, Holcomb Bridge Park, and Jones Bridge Park. Popular with anglers, the Chattahoochee River is stocked with both rainbow and brown trout.

Town Center

The Peachtree Corners Town Center opened in April 2019 after citizens overwhelming expressed a desire for a city center during a community survey. The city subsequently purchased 20 acres, then selected a general contractor to assist in making the citizens' dream a reality.

Adjacent to the Forum shopping center, the mixed-use development offers a wide variety of dining and retail experiences, ranging from casual to fine dining, with more than 20 dining options. Restaurants include Lazy Dog, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Marlow's Tavern, and First Watch, among others.

Beyond the retail shops and CineBistro movie theater is the Town Green, where live entertainment and other activities take place throughout the year. It is complete with a children's play area, stage, veteran's monument, outdoor fitness park, large TV screen, and seating areas.

Some of the shops and restaurants include:

• CMX CineBistro
• Beard Papa's Cream Puffs
• Tiff's Treats
• First Watch
• Marlow's Tavern
• Pokeworks
• Taqueria Tsunami
• Tipsy Salonbar
• Hollywood Feed

Pedestrian Bridge

The city constructed a pedestrian bridge that links the Town Center to the Forum shopping center and creates the hub of the city's central business district. The bridge spans Peachtree Parkway, a busy thoroughfare that carries 44,240 cars each day.

The bridge itself is a destination, with striking views and an elegant yet enduring appearance. It also serves as a key link in the city's multi-use trail plan by providing a safe crossing for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Hotels

• Atlanta Peachtree Corners Residence Inn, 5500 Triangle Drive
• Comfort Inn and Suites, 5200 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
• Courtyard by Marriott, 3209 Holcomb Bridge Road
• Extended Stay America, 6640 Bay Circle

Business Hotels

• Hampton Inn, 440 Technology Parkway
• Holiday Inn Express, 7035 Jimmy Carter Boulevard
• Hyatt Place, 5600 Peachtree Parkway
• Marriott Atlanta Peachtree Corners, 475 Technology Parkway
• Norcross Inn and Suites, 6650 Bay Circle
• Northeast Atlanta Hilton, 5993 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
• Hometown Studios, 7049 Jimmy Carter Blvd.
• Extended Stay America, 7065 Jimmy Carter Blvd.

Entertainment

• Bowling Alley: 1
• Movie Theater: 2
• Fitness: 15

Restaurants

• Full Service: 73
• Limited Service: 64

The City of Peachtree Corners is experiencing a remarkable renaissance in its growth and development. As a regional employment center with as many jobs as residents, Peachtree Corners has positioned itself to lead Gwinnett's economic resurgence. According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, several of "Atlanta's Best Places to Work" are in Peachtree Corners, including Insight Sourcing Group, Fusus, Relu Tech, NanoLumens Inc., and I.B.I.S., among others. The city is also home to one of Atlanta's top 25 engineering firms, Pond and Co., and top commercial contractors Fortune-Johnson Inc. and Hogan Construction Group LLC.

Of course, one of the biggest incentives that Peachtree Corners offers is no municipal property taxes. No other area communities can make such a claim. The city recognizes that certain "targeted businesses" in fields such as technology and life sciences are particularly beneficial. As a result, the City Manager is authorized to offer incentives to targeted businesses, such as a reduction in development or building permit fees and an acceleration of the plan review and permitting processes.

As part of a plan for economic development to attract and encourage businesses or practitioners of certain types of occupations or professions, the city may exempt new and emerging technology businesses from registration costs. This exemption shall apply to businesses in certain fields related to high technology, life sciences, information technology, and intellectual property.

City Incentives

The City Manager is authorized to offer incentives to Targeted Businesses meeting threshold requirements and those inducements may include:

• Reduction of development permit fees
• Reduction of application fees for public hearings
• Reduction of any current or future impact fees
• Reduction of building permit fees
• Reduction of business occupation taxes
• Acceleration of the plan review process

These incentives may be offered to Targeted Businesses that meet the following thresholds:

1. Tier 1: Targeted Business adds at least 25 new jobs and the jobs pay an average salary of at least 1.25 times the county average for that industry.
2. Tier 2: Targeted Business adds at least 100 new jobs and the jobs pay an average annual salary of at least 1.25 times the county average for that industry or $60,000 plus health benefits, whichever is greater. (City Ordinance 2013-02-07)

State Incentives

Job Tax Credit (JTC) for businesses or headquarters engaged in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution processing, telecommunications, broadcasting, tourism or research and development industries. Businesses creating 25 new jobs are eligible for a tax credit of $750 per new job under Tier 4 guidelines.

Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), a program designed to help increase credit availability to small businesses, provides access to capital in underserved markets and to women-and-minority-owned small businesses.

Local revolving funds (RLF) are potential sources of funding for new or expanding businesses in select areas. The goal is the creation of job opportunities for low-and moderate-income persons. Funds are capitalized with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Employment Incentive Program (EIP) grants.

Entrepreneur and small business support through the Georgia Department of Economic Development that includes one-on-one interaction, connections and incentives, as well as research, resources, mentorship programs and other tools.

Small Business Administration (SBA) loans and loan guarantees are available to businesses that cannot borrow on reasonable terms from conventional lenders. Loans may be used for land and building acquisition, machinery and equipment, building renovation, and working capital, among other uses.

The mean average household income in Peachtree Corners is $115,814, with 12 percent of the population earning $200,000 or more. For comparison, the mean household income in Gwinnett County is $88,000 with 6.5 percent earning $200,000 or more. The median income for workers in Peachtree Corner is $68,738. (Census, 2021 ACS).  Families with two workers earn approximately $166,583 annually (Census, 2021, ACS). 

According to Esri data provided by Georgia Power, 26 percent of residents in the workforce are in the “Young and Restless” tapestry category, which includes well-educated young workers, some of whom are still completing their education, are employed in professional and technical occupations, as well as sales and office and administrative support roles. These residents are not established yet, but striving to get ahead and improve themselves. 

Approximately 22 percent are in the “Professional Pride” tapestry, consisting of well-educated career professionals who maintain upscale, suburban lifestyles. Families are mostly married couples and more than half of this segment have children. The median household income for this segment is $138,000 (Esri.com/tapestry). There are about 18,000 housing units in the city, according to the Census, American Community Survey. Peachtree Corners is among one of the best places in the country for families, according to Fortune’s 2023 ranking of the 50 Best Places to Live for Families. Peachtree Corners came in at No. 19 nationally, and No. 1 in Georgia. The publication calls it “a somewhat surprising blend of family-friendly appeal and novel tech innovation.”

Education

• Bachelor's degree: 52% (age 25 and over)
• Graduate degree or higher: 20.0%

(U.S. Census, ACS 2021)

Income

• Median Household Income: $68,738
• Mean Household Income: $115,814

(U.S. Census, ACS 2021)

Professions

• Professional, scientific, management, administrative: 20%
• Wholesale trade: 11.5%
• Finance, insurance, and real estate: 8.8%
• Retail trade: 7.3%
• Manufacturing: 6.9%
• Arts, entertainment, recreation, food services: 6.2%
• Information: 4.1%
• Construction: 3.8%
• Educational Services: 2.7%

(U.S. Census 2015)

The Forum

The Forum in Peachtree Corners was designed to resemble a European village and was originally called Hamburg Village Shops. Today, this regional shopping center offers an elite collection of shops and restaurants in a beautiful, outdoor setting.

A few of the stores at the Forum are:

• Atlanta Bread Company Bakery Cafe
• Chico's
• Barnes and Noble
• Chipotle
• DSW Shoes
• LOFT
• Pottery Barn
• Soft Surroundings
• HomeGoods
• Bath and Body Works
• Jos. A. Bank Clothiers
• Banana Republic
• PANDORA

Curiosity Lab (CLab) is a publicly funded, purpose-built, living lab designed to provide a real-world test and demonstration environment to advance next-generation, intelligent mobility and smart city technology. The physical space and 3-mile autonomous vehicle (AV) test track are located within the City of Peachtree Corners, and specifically within the 500-acre technology park where over 10,000 people work and over 2,000 people live. CLab provides unique infrastructure and a supportive local government to facilitate innovation and deliver a real-world environment to prove out 5G, emerging Internet of Things, mobility, and connected device technologies. CLab welcomes early startups, universities, and established companies to test, demo, deploy new technologies, and partner and invest in new initiatives. The Innovation Center at CLab is located at 147 Technology Parkway in Peachtree Corners, just up the road from City Hall, and features a 25,000 square foot flex space with offices, conference rooms, event areas, a prototype lab, a startup business incubator, and other great amenities for technology focused companies. 

CLab is powered by T-Mobile’s 5G network and developers can build and test new 5G use cases such as AVs, industrial drone applications, robotics, mixed reality training and entertainment, remote medical care, personal health and fitness wearables, and more. Current CLab partners include T-Mobile, Bosch, UPS, Georgia Tech, Cisco, Georgia Power, ASHRAE, and others. 

CLab is one of the only 5G enabled smart city living labs in the world. Innovation leaders from Fortune 500 companies to international startups are involved in learning about the testing and demonstration infrastructure to plan future testing and deployment of new technologies. Startup companies receive priority access to all testing infrastructure and onsite video conferencing facilities, the design and prototyping lab, and complimentary use of the adjacent AV and smart city testing facilities.