The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce announces the launch of the Elevate Business Series (EBS), a rebranded and expanded version of the organization’s long-standing Small Business Series. Beginning in 2026, the program will support a wider range of small and medium-sized businesses seeking deeper insights, practical strategies, and opportunities to strengthen their operations in Gwinnett.
The rebrand follows several years of program growth, marked by rising attendance, broader industry representation, and a greater demand for advanced, solutions-based content. EBS builds on that momentum with more robust topics, specialized speakers, and practical takeaways designed to help businesses innovate, scale, and remain competitive.
The first EBS event is scheduled for February 24, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. in the Education Room at the Gwinnett Chamber. The program will feature Sarah Tourville, CEO of Media Frenzy, presenting strategic communications and brand positioning for growing companies.
The series is open to businesses in the greater Gwinnett area seeking networking, connection, and business growth opportunities. For more information on the program, please contact Candy Rodriguez, crodriguez@gwinnettchamber.org. Additional 2026 dates and speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
County budget down $85 million from 2025
The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners have approved a $2.58 billion budget to fund County operations and projects for 2026, a reduction of $84.6 million from the previous year’s budget.
The approved budget consists of a $2.15 billion operating budget and a $431 million capital budget, which includes funds from the County’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax program.
Initiatives in the budget include:
- Upgrading the County’s 911 phone system to enable faster call processing and enhanced emergency response.
- Investing in community resource centers, which serve as hubs to bring services closer to residents in their own neighborhoods.
- Keeping roadways safe with proactive repaving and maintenance.
- Continuing to provide safe, clean drinking water and reliable wastewater and stormwater services
The adopted 2026 budget resolution and supporting documents are available online at GwinnettCounty.com.
Finland’s consul general office is in Peachtree Corners
The new honorary consul general of Finland is Kari K. Lindberg, a former 40 year employee of Valmet. The offices of the consul are at 3720 Davinci Court in Peachtree Corners. He will represent the Finnish government as the volunteer honorary consul in Georgia. There are 33 other honorary consuls of Finland in the United States.The consulate serves Finnish citizens and supports economic, cultural, and business ties between Finland and Georgia. The consulate serves Finnish citizens and supports economic, cultural, and business ties between Finland and the U.S.
Lindberg has been in the Valmet office in the Georgia office for 24 years. He holds a Master of Science degree in engineering from University of Oulu, Finland. Lindberg holds dual citizenship of the USA and Finland. He lives in the greater Atlanta area with his spouse, Jaana. They have four adult sons and six grandchildren.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette closing newspaper on May 3
A lot of people often compare the cities of Atlanta and Pittsburgh. Though the Atlanta Journal Constitution stopped publishing a print newspaper on January 1, 2026, at least Atlanta has an online newspaper.
As of May 3, the daily Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is closing.
The family-owned company that operates The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cited mounting losses and labor constraints. The newspaper, whose origins date to 1786, will cease publication on Sunday, May 3.
The company, Block Communications Inc., said it had lost more than $350 million over the past 20 years while publishing the newspaper. The company cited recent court decisions that would require The Post-Gazette to operate under the terms of a 2014 labor contract, which it described as imposing “outdated and inflexible operational practices.”
The Post-Gazette’s closure will not affect The Toledo Blade in Ohio, which is also owned by Block Communications. The company is based in Toledo.
