Population 18-35

• The total population in Peachtree Corners, GA, is about 41,268.
• The people aged 18-35 are as follows: 18-19 years - 774, 20 years - 385, 21 years - 537, 22-24 years - 1,692, 25-29 years - 3,005, and 30-34 years - 3,158.
• Therefore, the total number of 18-35 population is about (774+385+537+1,692+3,005+3,158) = 9,551.

City Elections

• This year, 2020, the city is not holding any elections, according to its 2020 calendar and elections notices website. This could be because Peachtree Corners' city elections were held last year on November 5, 2019, where Lorri Christopher won the re-election with 978 votes to maintain her position as a Councilwoman. Additionally, Councilmen Phil Sadd and Alex Wright and Mayor Mike Mason ran for re-election without opposition.

Neighborhoods

• Some neighborhoods in Peachtree city include Peachtree Station Cir, Clover, Shakerag Hill, City Center, Starrs Mill, among others.
•  Peachtree Station Cir: 65.9% of this neighborhood's workforce is made of executives, managers, and professionals. According to NeighborhoodScout's survey, Peachtree Station Cir has a higher number of "high-level people" compared to 96.1% of entire neighborhoods in the USA. This makes it unique.
•  Clover: This neighborhood consists of people who afford an executive lifestyle. It is among the top 11.9% executive lifestyle neighborhoods in GA, according to a NeighborhoodScout's exclusive analysis. Clover is also suitable for families with school-aged children; this means it's a good choice for wealthy young families.

City ID Program

• Peachtree Corners doesn't have a city ID Card program of any kind for its residents. However, its county, Gwinnett County, provides a picture identification badge for solicitors, and it must be prominently displayed. The ID badge includes the solicitor's name, photo, business name, and expiration date. Additionally, at the lower corner of the ID reads "GCPD permit."
• Some cities in the United States that offer the "Municipal ID Card Program" have been highlighted on this website, Government Technology.

Question

• Since the city doesn't have any "Municipal/City ID Card Program," do you have any plans to launch this program for your city residents?

Research Strategy

Small Business Promotion Initiatives

1. Small business credit initiative (SSBCI)

• This program is designed to increase credit availability to small businesses. The aim of this initiative is to provide access to capital in underserved markets and to small businesses owned by women and minorities.

2. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans

• This initiative provides loans and loan guarantees to small businesses that cannot borrow on reasonable terms from conventional lenders. Small businesses may use these loans for purchasing machinery, to acquire land or building, working capital, among other uses.

Local Merchant Associations

• Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) 
•  Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce

Major Partnerships

1. Paul Duke STEM High School

• City of Peachtree Corners partnered with the new Paul Duke STEM High School to develop the school’s drone program.
• The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program is designed to engage students in designing, building and operating drones. The students will be working with the Public Works Department of the city of Peachtree Corners to deploy drones to assist with storm-water inspections.

2. Waze

• In 2018, the city of Peachtree Corners partnered with Waze, a mobile navigation app, to alert local motorists of traffic updates, road-construction news, and street closures.
• The partnership program was a part of an effort by the city of Peachtree Corners to help reduce vehicle congestion by utilizing a two-way data-sharing program of publicly available traffic information.

Lowest RFP (request for proposals) amounts

• The city of Peachtree Corners has an online platform where it publishes RFPs; however, no price ranges are technically provided. A typical example is an RFP for engineering services- Intersection Improvement at East Jones Bridge road.
• An RFP for Traffic Signal Installation at Technology Parkway and Technology Parkway South also had no mention of the lowest RFP (request for proposals) amount.

Questions

• How do you plan to promote small businesses through strategic partnerships in 2020?
• Do you have plans to establish any public-private partnerships in the near future (~5 years)?

1. Traffic Congestion and Transportation Issues

• According to the Peachtree Corners Mayor, traffic congestion remains a key problem in the city of Peachtree Corners.
• According to a survey conducted in 2017, which formed the basis for the 2017-2022 economic plan for the city, transportation and traffic problems were identified by business leaders and residents as the city's biggest challenge at 79%. 
• The congestion is particularly common around the intersection of Peachtree Corners Circle and Medlock Bridge Road, which has a daily traffic count of more than 25,000 vehicles and the Spalding Drive in Peachtree Corners from Winters Chapel Road to Holcomb Bridge Road.
• The traffic congestion has affected both residents and businesses, citing losses resulting from traffic delays and extended wait times.
• According to Peachtree Corners' Comprehensive Plan, "those leaving the City for work or working within the City have limited transportation options with 78% driving alone, 9% carpooling, 8% working from home, 2% using transit and 1% walking to work. The majority of those driving to work travel 24 miles or less. 51% travel 10 miles or less and 37.3% travel 10-24 miles."

Importance to Community

• According to a survey conducted in the city, employers and business leaders cite traffic issues and transportation issues as one of the primary reasons that they have experienced difficulty attracting qualified workers.
• In the report, traffic congestion has been identified as one of the weaknesses of the city and that which is affecting businesses and the residents as well.
• When respondents (business operators) were asked about what they would want the city to focus on to improve their businesses, infrastructure development (transportation, water, sewer, and gas) was among their top choices.

What Is Being Done

• According to the city's 2017-2022 economic plan, strategies are in place to prioritize transportation improvements.
• The city is also making strategic partnerships to improve the traffic situation in the city. Currently, a partnership exists between Peachtree Corners and Waze's Connected Citizens Program to address traffic congestion with real-time traffic updates available via an app.
• Additionally, plans for Spalding Drive widening and Holcomb Bridge intersection improvements are underway.
• According to the Comprehensive Transportation Plan, which will guide improvements of the city for the next 20 years (beginning 2016), areas to be prioritized include intersection improvements, sidewalks, roadway widening, bike facilities, trains, and other transportation infrastructure needs.

Stakeholders Involved

•  Stakeholders involved in addressing traffic congestion and transportation issues on Peachtree Corners include the city's leaders, including the Mayor, council members, elected leaders in the city, the business community, and residents.
• The Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank is also involved in the infrastructure projects in Peachtree Corners. The institution provided funds towards the reconstruction of a "T" intersection at Peachtree Corners and Medlock Bridge as a roundabout with sidewalks and multi-use trails.

2. Housing Issues/Aging Commercial and Residential Properties.

• Peachtree Corners recently approved the Economic Development Plan 2017-2022, a document which fronts aging commercial property as the second most pressing issue in the city, which affects businesses and residents.
• A section of people in the city says that "there is a feeling that Peachtree Corners is the 1970s." The respondents further voiced concern over the city's reputation of offering old products, a factor that limits its ability to attract investments.
• The City of Peachtree Corners Comprehensive Plan also outlines the issue of aging multi-family residential apartment complexes. The scenario is affecting the housing sector alike.
• Peachtree Corners has aging and deteriorating apartment complexes, office complexes, and retail centers, which are headed towards the end of their useful economic life. The revitalization of properties present opportunities for future investments and growth in the city.
• Apartment units are aging, with the average unit having been built in 1981. Less than 200 units in a single apartment community have been added in the last 20 years.

Importance to Community

• Both the community and businesses stand to benefit from revitalized properties, both residential and commercial.
• Redevelopment of the aging properties will motivate young, educated professionals who wish to work and live in Peachtree Corners.
• When the commercial properties are revitalized, investments will increase and boost the local economy for the benefit of business people and the community as a whole when more amenities and services come up.

What is Being Done

• According to the City of Peachtree Corners 2040 Comprehensive Plan, "the City has a number of exciting development and redevelopment opportunities, from the new Town Center to underutilized retail space on Holcomb Bridge Road."
• The leadership of the city plans to explore creative ways to utilize these spaces to solidify Peachtree Corners' reputation as a highly desirable place to live, do business, and a regional destination.
• Under the plan, one of the city's goals is to "enable redevelopment and capture high-quality new development." The key focus area under the goal is to spur redevelopment of industrial, commercial, industrial, and multi-family properties using strategic developer bonuses and incentives.

Stakeholders Involved

•  Stakeholders include City Mayor and City Council, community members, and the business community. 

A Question to Leaders

Research Strategy