(Gwinnett County, GA. October 28, 2026) –– The 2026 Metro Atlanta Redevelopment Summit (MARS) convened business and community leaders Wednesday, Oct. 28, to explore redevelopment strategies, showcase regional projects and recognize the people turning community vision into economic opportunity.
Presented by Gwinnett’s Community Improvement Districts — Evermore CID, Gateway85 CID, Gwinnett Place CID, Lilburn CID and Sugarloaf CID — and co-hosted by Partnership Gwinnett and the Council for Quality Growth, the 16th annual summit was held at the John C. Maxwell Leadership Center. The program highlighted how redevelopment strengthens the places, infrastructure and business environments that attract investment and talent.
“Redevelopment creates opportunities for communities to compete and grow,” said Kevin Carmichael, Senior Vice President of Economic Development at Partnership Gwinnett. “The projects and leaders recognized at MARS demonstrate what happens when public and private partners align around a shared vision. Their work strengthens our business climate, creates destinations and brings new purpose to places with untapped potential.”
The summit’s annual awards recognized outstanding redevelopment projects and leadership across metro Atlanta.
The 2026 MARS award recipients included:
· Redevelopment Champion of the Year: Dr. Eloisa Klementich, President and CEO, Invest Atlanta.
· Small Redevelopment Project of the Year: The Lawrence Hotel, Lawrenceville.
· Medium Redevelopment Project of the Year: Crest Point Village, Peachtree Corners.
· Large Redevelopment Project of the Year: Fort Gillem, Forest Park.
“These honorees represent the vision and commitment required to turn redevelopment opportunities into lasting community assets,” said Michael Paris, President and CEO of the Council for Quality Growth. “We congratulate this year’s winners and the partners whose work continues to strengthen communities across metro Atlanta.”
Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson delivered closing remarks, concluding a program focused on the partnerships and investment shaping the region’s future.
The summit came just days after Partnership Gwinnett received an Award of Excellence from the International Economic Development Council for the Partnership Gwinnett Redevelopment Framework. Presented Monday, Oct. 26, at IEDC’s Annual Conference in New Orleans, the award recognized the collaborative redevelopment work advanced through the organization’s 4.0 initiative.
Through its Redevelopment Council, peer tours and MARS, Partnership Gwinnett connects county, municipal and private-sector partners with practical tools, shared expertise and opportunities to learn from successful projects. The global recognition reinforces the value of that work as the organization prepares to launch its next strategic plan.
Redevelopment will remain a priority in Partnership Gwinnett 5.0, the organization’s strategy for 2027–2031. Join Partnership Gwinnett on Nov. 6 at The Water Tower in Buford as the organization unveils Partnership Gwinnett 5.0 and its vision for the next five years. For event details and registration, visit PartnershipGwinnett.com.
