Metro Atlanta is now 6.5 million people strong. That makes us the eighth-largest region in the country. And here’s the part that really puts it in perspective — we’ve doubled in size since the 1996 Olympics. Let that sink in for a moment.

That was the backdrop for the Gwinnett Chamber’s On Topic: State of the Region, presented by Porter Steel and held before a sold-out crowd at The 1818 Club. Atlanta Regional Commission Executive Director Anna Roach delivered the annual address, and as expected, it was grounded in data, disciplined in delivery, and deeply relevant to Gwinnett’s role in Metro Atlanta’s continued growth and development.

Growth is still happening across the region, though at a slower pace than in years past. Much of the fastest expansion is occurring in the outer counties. Gwinnett’s growth rate sits at about 1.5 percent — steady, measured, and significant when you consider our scale.

But population growth is only part of the story. Our demographics are shifting in ways that will shape public policy and business strategy for decades. By 2050, one in five residents in the region will be 65 or older. At the same time, birth rates are declining, not just here, but globally, as families make affordability-driven decisions about their futures. That combination will influence everything from workforce pipelines to school enrollment to housing demand. These are not abstract projections. They are planning realities.

Speaking of planning realities, Metro Atlanta is now the second-fastest-growing data center market in the nation. That’s a major economic win. Data centers are strong contributors to local property tax bases and bring high-value investment to communities. However, they also require significant coordination around water usage, land use, and energy capacity. Roach noted that operators are increasingly investing in closed-loop water systems to reduce consumption and reuse supply. Smart land planning and thoughtful infrastructure investment will determine how successfully we balance growth with sustainability.

And then there is traffic. Yes, traffic.

Post-pandemic volumes have returned to pre-2020 levels. Interstate 85 remains one of the most congested corridors in the region. But here’s the twist — lunchtime is now the most congested time of day, and Wednesday has overtaken Friday as the most congested weekday. The average Gwinnett commuter travels 21 miles each way and spends about 40 minutes doing it. To address bottlenecks and freight movement, the Atlanta Regional Commission has committed $3 billion in transportation investments between 2026 and 2028. As the federally designated metropolitan planning organization, ARC plays a central role in directing regional transportation planning and allocating federal funding, much of which is leveraged through the Georgia Department of Transportation. For Gwinnett, Highway 316 improvements remain a major priority. The planned flyover loop at the I-85/I-985 interchange is another critical congestion-relief project, particularly as freight traffic continues to increase. These are not minor adjustments. They are strategic investments in regional mobility and long-term economic competitiveness.

Housing affordability also remains a defining issue — locally, regionally, and nationally. The cost of housing directly affects workforce stability, business recruitment, and overall economic growth. Transportation, housing, and economic opportunity are deeply connected. Roach made that clear.
She closed with a statistic that was difficult to ignore. Research conducted by Raj Chettyfound that in 2015, Metro Atlanta ranked 49th out of 50 major U.S. regions for economic mobility — defined as the likelihood that a child born into poverty will earn more than their parents once they reach adulthood. When the study was repeated in 2025, the region fell to 50th. “As prosperous as we are,” said Roach, “that ranking demands attention.”

ARC is investing in programs designed to improve outcomes, including initiatives focused on health disparities and access to emergency services in vulnerable communities. “Live Beyond Expectations” and Human Services Transportation initiatives are working to improve mobility for older adults and individuals with disabilities, ensuring that access — to healthcare, to jobs, to opportunity — is not determined by zip code.

Roach praised the Gwinnett Chamber and Gwinnett County Government for their partnership and engagement at the regional level noting that Gwinnett’s voice is present in these conversations. It is influential. And it matters.

If the State of the Region provided a clear-eyed assessment of where Metro Atlanta stands, the next step is understanding how Gwinnett intends to lead within it. To learn more about the County’s priorities and future plans, join us as the Gwinnett Chamber and Council for Quality Growth cohost the Gwinnett State of the County Address, presented by Amazon, Atlas and Axis. The event will held on Friday, March 6, at 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville.

Regional growth and development are not happening somewhere else. They are happening here — and Gwinnett is helping shape what comes next.