Rowen Stakeholder Newsletter: March 25, 2026
Rowen’s First Tenant is a Win for Georgia’s Future
UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on treatments for severe neurological and autoimmune conditions, has selected Rowen as the site of its new U.S. biologics manufacturing campus — bringing $2 billion in direct investment, more than 330 permanent jobs and approximately $5 billion in total economic impact.
For everyone who has believed in Rowen’s vision—our neighbors, our academic partners, our local leaders, and the broader Gwinnett community—this moment belongs to you, too.
UCB’s decision to invest at Rowen is a signal that the community we have been building here, with care and intention, is ready to welcome the world. UCB chose Rowen not just for its infrastructure or its location, but for its purpose: a place where research, innovation and community growth are designed to work together.
This project marks the largest capital investment in Gwinnett County’s history and opens a new chapter for our region. UCB’s presence will bring opportunity: new jobs for scientists, engineers and professionals in the region—and those who will move here—to live, work and contribute to this community for decades to come. This is what Rowen’s 100-year vision looks like in practice: growth that is meaningful, durable and deeply connected to the people around it.
We’re grateful to the Governor, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Gwinnett team, industry leaders, higher education partners and our neighbors for supporting our vision and the work that is to come. And we look forward to celebrating this milestone in the months ahead.
Mason Ailstock
President & CEO
Read More About UCB’s Announcement
A Community Built for What Comes Next
The announcement of Rowen’s first tenant reflects more than confidence in a single site. It reflects confidence in the broader community that surrounds it. Gwinnett County recently earned recognition as a Certified Platinum Green Community and a Gold-Tier BioReady Community, designations that underscore the county’s commitment to sustainable growth, environmental stewardship and readiness for advanced industry.
These values align with Rowen’s own. Our knowledge community is designed from the ground up around climate resilience, responsible infrastructure and long-term sustainability with Georgia’s first Greenroads Certified project, stormwater systems, native plantings and energy-efficient design woven into every mile of roads and pathways.
Rowen on the Road
Our team has been busy and on the road, strengthening connections and showcasing Rowen as a top destination for business. Catch up on the latest below and follow where to find us next.
- Georgia Chamber of Commerce 2026 Eggs & Issues Breakfast | January 14, Atlanta
- 2026 Most Influential Georgians Luncheon | January 26, Georgia Aquarium
- UGA’s Industry Forward Symposium | February 23, Athens
- State of Gwinnett | March 6, Gwinnett County — where Rowen’s Convergence Center was recognized as “the front door for innovation”
- Area Development Consultants Forum Workshop | March 16-18, Charlotte, NC
- Site Selectors Guild Spring Conference | March 23-25, Atlanta
- State of Rowen in partnership with the Gwinnett Chamber | May 14, 2026 | Register Here
- Community Celebration at Rowen | June 6, 2026
Media Coverage
Gwinnett’s bet to build Georgia version of Research Triangle Park starts to pay off
Originally published in The AJC. Belgian biopharmaceutical facility to anchor massive life sciences campus, which still has 1,900 acres to develop. Sometimes envy is the driving force behind economic development. Many states covet the ecosystem created by North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, a massive biotech and life sciences hub positioned between the Tar Heel State’s […]
Media Coverage
Atlanta’s Suburban Life Sciences Push Gains Traction as UCB Commits $2B to Rowen
Originally published in Globest.com. Rowen, an ambitious project to create a 2,000-acre life sciences park that combines sustainability, environmental protection and advanced manufacturing in a suburban Atlanta county, has scored its first major win. UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company based in Brussels, has announced a $2 billion investment in 79 acres in the Gwinnett County […]
Media Coverage
UCB scoops up 79 acres in Gwinnett County for $2 billion manufacturing plant
Originally published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Story Highlights UCB Inc. paid $14.3 million for 79 acres along what used to be known as Old Freeman Mill Road. The Belgium-based pharmaceutical giant plans to develop a $2 billion plant on the Gwinnett County site. It will be part of the planned Rowen life sciences research […]