Gwinnett County Public Library is taking applications for its RISE Teen Entrepreneurship Program.
With more than 60 percent of teens considering entrepreneurship, GCPL offers a four-week intensive workshop beginning on February 17, 2026, teaching teens the entrepreneurial skills needed to start a business.
Participants, with the help of instructors and mentors, will develop a business concept, create a small business plan, and pitch their ideas. They will pitch to a panel of local entrepreneurs in a Shark Tank-style competition.
Competition winners can earn cash awards for their business ideas. Applicants must be between 13 and 19 years old and be residents of Gwinnett County. They must have reliable. transportation to the weekly meetings, which take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Lawrenceville Hooper-Renwick branch. Deadline to apply is Jan. 5, 2026.
Additionally, library cardholders 13 years of age and older have access to nine maker spaces across Gwinnett County to explore entrepreneurial interests. The technology includes laser printers, digital cameras, podcasting mixers, sewing machines, software, and more. All of this is industry-leading and free. Young entrepreneurs can develop their ideas using maker spaces and then promote their businesses on free platforms.
Opioid committee plans sessions on addiction
The Gwinnett County Opioid Abatement Advisory Committee invites residents, healthcare professionals and community leaders to attend one of two upcoming town halls addressing the resources available to those impacted by opioid addiction.
The town halls will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 9, and Thursday, Dec. 11, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Innovation Square, located at 446 West Crogan Street in Lawrenceville.
The sessions will provide an open forum for participants to share their experiences, challenges and recommendations related to prevention, treatment and recovery in Gwinnett County.
Community feedback during the town halls will play a vital role in shaping future strategies to combat opioid misuse and strengthen support and resources. Anyone interested in participating can register at GwinnettCounty.com/OpioidTownHalls.
Association completes phase 3 of shoreline protection
The Lake Lanier Association (LLA) has completed a third phase of the ongoing shoreline protection initiative, Project Armor. This latest phase of the program reinforces one linear mile, or 5,280 feet, of Lake Lanier’s shoreline with rip rap in 16 vulnerable areas experiencing severe erosion due to heavy boat traffic.
The LLA spearheads the only initiative to save and protect the islands. These islands dot the middle of Lake Lanier, and they are considered cherished and irreplaceable assets by those who live on and visit the lake. They provide opportunities for wildlife habitat, beaches and coves for recreation, fishing spots and general enjoyment on Lake Lanier.
There are some areas on the lake where the entire island has disappeared as a result of constant erosion. As more and more of the shoreline erodes and falls into the lake, these areas between the islands become shallower and less usable for safe recreation. The rip rap assists in dissipating wave energy heading back in the opposite direction towards the lake.
The loss of these islands is not only a loss for recreation but also for storage capacity as the sediment added to the lake reduces the storage capacity for drinking water that over five million Georgians rely on.
Since 2014, the LLA has protected a total of three linear miles of Lake Lanier shoreline through rip rap installation, safeguarding 28 areas and islands from erosion. With a mission of protecting and preserving Lake Lanier through keeping a clean, full and safe lake, shoreline protection is a high priority of LLA.
