Business View Civil and Municipal | Volume 3, Issue 3

143 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 PEACHTREE CORNERS , GEORGI A that converted to an apartment community by renovating those units and expanding their amenities.” The result is more housing options for the city, and a building that won’t become an eyesore. The city’s innovative planning extends past satisfying business needs. At the beginning of the pandemic, Peachtree Corners made decisive choices to put recreation at the forefront of their decision making. An 11-mile multi-use trail system had begun construction in the city four years previous, with half a mile to a mile completed each year. “We realized that there was a need,” Johnson says. “People were wanting to get outside, so we ramped it up. We constructed things like pedestrian bridges over high-trafficked roadways so people can cross safely and without stopping traffic. And we’ve done a lot of work getting people to and from recreational areas on the Chattahoochee River.” The trail system has been a boon to residents, but it’s also become a real draw to businesses looking to relocate. “There have been companies that have decided to relocate here, some significant ones – large corporations which are creating lots of jobs – that are telling us the multi-use trail system was certainly an important component because they wanted their employees to have access to get outside and walk during the day and to feel like they get to live close enough that they can walk to the office. So, it’s paid off for us to do this.” Businesses in the area have no shortage of skilled talent to choose from, as Peachtree Corners works diligently with local and state educational institutions to ensure the next generation is trained for the future. The city has relationships with the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Georgia Gwinnett College. Peachtree Corners also has its own STEM high school, which has partnerships with the city and Curiosity Lab for training in things like drones and cybersecurity. “We have mobilized internship programs for these students to get into some of the companies that are headquartered here and get great opportunities to get exposed to some of this technology before they move on to college,” Johnson says. As Peachtree Corners moves into the future, the city of innovators will continue to create unique opportunities for its residents. “I’m excited about the potential that we have to take advantage of,” Johnson boasts. “The sky is the limit.”