Community & Culture

Cooperating for Tomorrow

Collaboration and connection are at the heart of the Rowen Region’s vision for thriving communities. Across Gwinnett County, Community Improvement Districts drive revitalization, enhancing infrastructure and creating spaces that make the area a desirable place to live, work and play. Community development services like Live Healthy Gwinnett encourage residents to invest in their personal wellness, fostering a sense of community while promoting healthier lifestyles.

At Rowen, the knowledge community embodies this spirit of collaboration. Anchored by the Rowen Village and Convergence Center, Rowen will offer dynamic spaces where learning, personal growth, recreation and entertainment come together. These hubs are designed to inspire connections, drive innovation, and create opportunities for individuals and businesses to thrive in a unified, forward-thinking environment.

A Past that Informs the Future

The Rowen Region carries a rich history deeply rooted in the stewardship of its land. Native American tribes once called this area home, recognizing its therapeutic benefits and cultivating staple crops like corn, beans and squash. Pioneer settlers later subdivided the land into productive farms that thrived well into the 20th century. Both groups carefully conserved the land, leaving behind a legacy of respect for its natural resources.

Rowen honors this heritage through intentional partnerships with the University of Georgia’s College of Environment and Design and the surrounding communities. The name “Rowen,” meaning “a second harvest,” reflects the knowledge community’s mission to cultivate groundbreaking ideas and innovations that will drive a new economy. This connection to history is woven into Rowen’s three programmatic drivers—environmental, agricultural and medical—chosen specifically to align with the land’s enduring significance.

As Rowen grows, it remains committed to preserving its roots while shaping the future. This balance of respect for the past and investment in forward-thinking initiatives ensures that the region’s legacy continues to inspire progress for generations to come.

Recognizing our Diverse Perspectives

With strong diversity across its 11-county footprint, the Rowen Region offers a dynamic tapestry of cultures and perspectives. In recent years, minority populations have grown significantly, with Asian and Hispanic graduates leading the way in degree attainment between 2020 and 2025. Gwinnett County champions inclusion through initiatives like the Gwinnett County Black Chamber of Commerce, which empowers Black entrepreneurs and fosters economic growth within communities of color.

Cultural appreciation thrives in the Rowen Region, where events like Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations and the Seoul of the South food tour bring communities together to honor their rich traditions. This deep respect for diverse backgrounds fuels innovation, as Rowen recognizes that unique perspectives are essential to solving global challenges.

With plans to generate up to 100,000 jobs in Georgia’s economy at full buildout, Rowen is set to leverage this diversity to build an inclusive future while creating unprecedented opportunities for all.