Wells Fargo Foundation is joining forces with State Representative Marvin Lim, Community Sustainability Enterprise, and The Exit Strategy to present the Exit Strategy: Financial Reality Fair across the Meadowcreek school Cluster. This hands-on financial literacy experience will empower over 150 students and families with the tools, strategies, and decision-making skills to build a sustainable financial future.
The Financial Reality Fair will take place at three schools across the Meadowcreek Cluster:
- Lilburn Middle School – Friday, September 19, 2025, at 10 a.m.
- McClure Health and Science High School – Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 10 a.m.
- Meadowcreek High School – Friday, September 26, 2025 at 10:30 a.m.
The program’s strategy is to align public education, community engagement, and real-world financial tools to ensure Gwinnett County’s Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) standards for personal finance translate into financial capability and economic mobility for students and families.
Each event simulates real-life financial choices and consequences—housing, transportation, credit, income, childcare, lifestyle, and savings—designed to build confidence and understanding around financial decisions. Students are challenged to think critically and plan strategically as they “live a month in the life” of an assigned career and income scenario.
This initiative responds directly to the critical needs of the Meadowcreek community:
- Translating AKS standards into practical life decisions.
- Preparing students to understand the link between career choices, income, and financial outcomes.
- Equipping families with knowledge about homeownership, entrepreneurship, and credit-building.
- Local and regional business professionals serve as mentors, station leaders, and resources for long-term impact.
Rep. Lim says: “This is more than a fair—it’s a launchpad for generational transformation.”
Lilburn finds goats to be good workers
The City of Lilburn has welcomed some unusual but hard-working contractors to Lilburn City Park. Fritz Family Farms of Monticello, Ga., has brought in a herd of 91 goats with a single mission: munch their way through the kudzu that’s creeping along the creek.
For approximately 10 days, these “eco-friendly lawnmowers” will be on the job, clearing invasive vegetation the natural way. While the goats are not available for petting, visitors can catch them in action from a safe distance behind a temporary fence line along the creek.
Mayor Johnny Crist says: “The goats provide a sustainable and effective solution for controlling invasive kudzu.” The city’s unofficial photographer, Councilman Emil Powella, captured the city’s new “employees” and shared, “I have spent several hours at the park since the goats arrived and have loved seeing the look on people’s faces, young and old, as they watch and talk to the goats.”
Residents are encouraged to stop by Lilburn City Park to watch the goats at work as they help protect and restore the natural beauty of one of the city’s most loved green spaces.
Tax bills to be mailed one month later this year
Gwinnett property owners will see a delay of one month for mailing of their 2025 tax bill
because of implementation requirements related to House Bill (HB) 581 and HB 92, says Tax Commissioner Denise R. Mitchell. Instead of mailing tax bills in August, property owners can now receive their bills in mid September.
However, voters in Grayson will get their bills in mid November because of complications of the two house bills.
HB 581, passed by the Georgia General Assembly earlier this year, introduced sweeping legislative changes requiring immediate, same-year implementation across counties statewide. While the intent of the legislation aimed to enhance transparency in property tax processes, the practical rollout has presented significant logistical hurdles, particularly for high-volume counties like Gwinnett.
Property tax bills deadline for payment is December 15, except for Grayson residents, who get extra time to pay because of the late delivery of bills.
GGC business students engage with SBA Expo
More than 150 Georgia Gwinnett College business students connected with educational resources, engagement opportunities and internship prospects at the college’s School of Business (SBA) Expo recently. SBA offers the expo twice a year, according to Ben Hines, SBA’s program engagement associate.
He says: “There was a good turnout, and you could tell there was a sense of comradery with the students and the faculty and, of course, the alumni, helping out as well. That atmosphere provided participants with a sense of community.”
Hines said students learned about SBA’s varied registered student organizations, SBA-hosted study abroad trips and learned about potential internships and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Dr. Marvin Bontrager, associate professor of management, is SBA’s internship coordinator. He was on hand at the expo promoting internships ranging from marketing to accounting to supply chain management and more. As he spoke to the student participants, he underscored the importance of college internships.
Dr. Bontrager explained: “Internships are like an ‘audition’ for an organization. They’re important because students can take what they’re learning and apply it in a practical setting to gain work experience before they graduate.”
The SBA expo has been offered since 2016 and is described by Hines as the largest event SBA uses to kick off the semester.
