Georgia Bio Announces Gwinnett County as Newest BioReady® Community

July 19, 2024, Atlanta, GA – Gwinnett County was officially recognized by Georgia Bio, the state’s leading life sciences membership organization, for achieving Gold-Tier BioReady® Community status during the Board of Commissioners meeting this week. To receive this distinction, communities must meet certain criteria and be able to support the growing biotech industry.

 

Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson shared, “This prestigious recognition is a testament to Gwinnett County's dedication to supporting the growing biotech sector. Our forward-thinking zoning policies and supportive infrastructure make us an ideal destination for companies looking to establish or expand their biotechnology operations. By fostering a welcoming environment for life sciences companies, we continue to position Gwinnett as a hub for cutting-edge research and development.”

 

“Gwinnett County is the first county in metro Atlanta to qualify and receive BioReady® gold status,” said Maria Thacker-Goethe, President and CEO of Georgia Bio. “The county has clearly demonstrated a willingness to continue to foster the biotech sector with infrastructure investments like The Water Tower and Rowen Foundation, which in addition to a strong and diverse workforce, help make them a desirable choice for industry and a benefit to Georgia’s overall economy.” 


The BioReady® rating system rates communities in three tiers from Bronze to Silver to Gold. Through these BioReady® ratings, Georgia Bio seeks to provide cities and towns a platform to effectively tell their stories to the biotechnology industry, ultimately helping real estate developers and biotechnology companies find the most favorable destinations to locate. 

 

As the state’s largest and most influential life sciences advocacy and business leadership organization, Georgia Bio works to improve access to innovative technologies and grow Georgia’s life sciences economy.  Georgia Bio launched the BioReady® Community program in Georgia with the support from the non-profit’s partners at MassBio, a global life sciences and healthcare organization dedicated to advancing Massachusetts’ position in the life sciences. With a goal of helping local communities connect with leading life sciences industry representatives, Georgia Bio replicated the MassBio rating system program to determine a municipality’s readiness to host biotechnology facilities based on the community’s zoning practices and infrastructure capacity.
 
Learn more on the 
Georgia Bio’s BioReady Communities website

 

About Georgia Bio 

Georgia Bio (GaBio) is the state’s most impactful life sciences membership organization, advocating for the sector and its diverse innovation pipeline. For more than 30 years, GaBio has served its members by supporting companies of all sizes, from early-stage innovators and startups to established industry leaders in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology. GaBio also works closely with universities, academic and research institutions, the investment community, and other critical partners that promote this vibrant sector. GaBio works to shape public policy, improve access to breakthrough technologies, educate lawmakers, provide member programs, strengthens the workforce pipeline, and advance equity within our ecosystem by championing innovative solutions for some of the most pressing challenges of our times. For more information, visit www.gabio.org

 

Contact 

Melissa Carter 

Georgia Bio 

mcarter@gabio.org 

Gold-Tier BioReady® Community status was presented during the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Meeting July 16, 2024.

February 20, 2026
Recognition highlights Brookhaven’s commitment to life sciences growth and biomanufacturing readiness Brookhaven, GA, Feb. 18, 2026 – The City of Brookhaven has been designated a BioReady Gold Community by Georgia Life Sciences, the state’s leading life sciences membership organization. The BioReady Community program evaluates a community’s preparedness to support life sciences development across key areas, including zoning and permitting, utilities and infrastructure, workforce readiness, and coordination among local government and economic development partners. The Gold distinction represents a high level of readiness and alignment with industry needs. “Achieving Gold BioReady status underscores Brookhaven’s commitment to being a competitive destination for life sciences innovation and manufacturing,” said Aaron Szarowicz, City of Brookhaven Economic Development Director. “This designation reflects the intentional investments and partnerships we’ve built to support companies as they scale and create high-quality jobs in our community.” Brookhaven’s BioReady assessment highlighted the City’s modern infrastructure, strategic location within metro Atlanta, access to a skilled workforce, and collaborative approach between City leadership, regional partners, and the business community. Together, these assets position Brookhaven to support companies across the life sciences value chain—from research and development to scale-up and manufacturing. The BioReady rating system evaluates communities across three tiers—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—based on their readiness to attract and support life sciences facilities. Through these ratings, Georgia Life Sciences helps municipalities better showcase biotech-zoned sites, strengthen infrastructure planning, and clearly identify life sciences-friendly locations. This approach enables communities like Brookhaven to compete more effectively for private investment and job creation. Georgia Life Sciences works to advance innovation, strengthen the workforce pipeline, and grow Georgia’s life sciences economy through the BioReady Community program, modeled after MassBio’s nationally recognized rating system which assesses a community’s readiness to host life sciences facilities based on zoning practices and infrastructure capacity. For more information on the non-profit, membership-based organization, visit www.galifesciences.org . For more information about Brookhaven’s economic development initiatives, visit www.BrookhavenGA.gov/EconDev . ### Media Contact: Ann Marie Quill, Assistant Communications Director 404-205-3832 AnnMarie.Quill@BrookhavenGA.gov
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