Information: www.norcrossga.net. Select city government, then boards and authorities.
When I was a little girl, my father would take me with him on Saturday mornings to the local drug store/grill for ice cream. Dad always knew everyone in the place and I frequently overheard talk of more than the latest high school football score. Over time I learned my father, a small business owner, spent many early mornings each week at the drug store talking over issues with other city entrepreneurs. They were often the first to know about zoning changes, new taxes or the latest political topic.
The tradition continues today with a modern twist.
In Norcross, business owners, city leaders and residents meet each Wednesday morning for a Progressive Development Committee meeting at the city’s local coffee shop, 45 South Café. Unlike local business associations or chambers of commerce, the Norcross PDC has no membership fee or required attendance. Approximately twenty to thirty men and women meet there each week.
It is here they discuss matters affecting the Norcross area, anything from local and county politics to citywide social events. At most meetings, the NPDC’s chairman will have organized a guest speaker like the Police Chief, the Gwinnett Place CID Chairman, the state’s Equal Opportunity Commissioner or city officials with updates on government business.
The group also undertakes projects the city may not have resources to address including support of local schools, bridging diversity and youth mentoring. At least four Norcross city councilmen have come from within the ranks.
The format gives involved citizens a chance to flesh out potentially troubling speculation. According to one local resident, “If there is a rumor, we get the facts and can ask questions.”
As Southwest Gwinnett Chamber President Bill Brown put it, “This format gives you the ability to keep an open line of communication, and hear different points of view.”
Duluth has a similar group focused on improvements to a specific economic thoroughfare called the PIB-5. Grayson is forming a Main Street Committee with similar goals. Sugar Hill has plans for a group to form when their co-work space opens next month. I’m sure there are others.
I was a little disappointed this past Wednesday when I visited the Norcross PDC. There was no ice cream served, but there sure was a positive sense of community working together.
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