Media Coverage

A Look Back at Rowen in 2024

Published in the Gwinnett Daily Post

By Mason Ailstock
CEO of the Rowen Foundation

It is an old axiom in architecture that a well-built foundation creates an opportunity for a stronger building. For Rowen, 2024 was a year of foundation building, as we deepened our relationship with a variety of partners and established innovative roads, trails and other infrastructure that will support the community for decades to come.

This physical and relational infrastructure will allow us to create a world-class hub that will unite global industries in medicine, agriculture and the environment while cultivating a vibrant community where people across industries come together to shape a better future.

A few highlights

A core focus in 2024 has been deepening our relationships with key partners. We engaged with over 400 students and faculty from local universities, invested $175,000 in on-site Living Lab projects focused on sustainability, research and applied science, and in partnership with Emory University, supported a statewide AI training initiative.

Additionally, the annual Convergence Summit brought together industry and academic leaders to highlight Gwinnett-based companies and spark new collaborations.

On-site, we completed two miles of complete streets and four miles of multi-modal trails as part of our initial infrastructure development. These trails connect directly to Gwinnett County’s regional trail system, and our roads are set to be transferred to the county and open early this year.

These infrastructure investments have opened up 800 acres of our 2,000-acre site for development, creating over 240 construction jobs. In total, we’ve invested $32 million to create Georgia’s first Greenroads Pilot Project, establishing access for our first 800 acres of scalable real estate. More than 30 percent of the total contract value went to women- and minority-owned businesses, furthering our commitment to offer opportunities among diverse groups.

Environmental sustainability continues to be a cornerstone of Rowen’s mission. In 2024, we planted 440 trees, 6,486 shrubs and 6,444 ornamental grasses — all native species — helping to support the local ecosystem and enhance the natural beauty of the site. These efforts, combined with our infrastructure investments, position Rowen as a model for how development can enhance the environment.

The success we’ve seen in 2024 wouldn’t have been possible without the strong partnerships we’ve cultivated, including the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Gwinnett County, Technical College System of Georgia, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, Partnership Gwinnett, Georgia Power, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, among others. These key partners have not only helped to attract top industries to the area but have also strengthened our relationships with Georgia’s leading universities, providing a robust pipeline of talent for the workforce of tomorrow.

Looking ahead to 2025

This new year, we are excited to continue the momentum we’ve already built and dive into the growth ahead. Rowen is rapidly evolving, and our focus remains on creating a dynamic environment where innovation can thrive. In the coming year, we plan to further deepen our partnerships, attract new industry leaders and enhance economic opportunities across Georgia.

We are committed to making Rowen a place where people don’t just work — they thrive. This is a place where ideas will be nurtured, businesses will succeed and communities will come together for a lasting impact.

We want to extend a special thanks to Gwinnett County for being an essential part of Rowen’s journey. As we move into 2025 and beyond, we look forward to achieving even greater things together.