Norcross Rebuilds Economic Team to Support Local Shops

After sitting empty for more than six months, Norcross's economic development department is back in action with a fresh mission: supporting the small businesses that make up the heart of this 20,000-person Georgia city.

David Versel joined as Economic Development Director last May and brought on Jennifer Valencia, a Norcross native, to lead community outreach. Together they're rebuilding the program from scratch with a new focus on the businesses already calling Norcross home.

The shift matters because more than 90% of Norcross businesses have fewer than 20 employees. These aren't big corporations, they're neighborhood shops, family-run companies, and local services that need support to keep growing.

"Successful businesses pay tax dollars, generate jobs, generate economic activity that then pays for all these great things that we have in our community," Versel told residents at a May community meeting.

The team launched a legacy business program to celebrate local companies hitting milestones, like United Consulting's 30th anniversary. They're also working hard to connect with Hispanic business owners, recognizing the growing diversity of the city's entrepreneurial community.

The challenge? Success has created its own problems. Norcross has almost no vacancy in industrial or retail space right now, with no retail spaces over 2,500 square feet available anywhere in the six-square-mile city.

That means any new businesses will need to renovate existing buildings or redevelop current sites. The city just renewed its downtown tax allocation district with more than $1 million ready to invest in the historic core between College and Lawrenceville streets.

The Ripple Effect

When a city invests in keeping small businesses strong, everyone benefits. Jobs stay local, tax revenue supports community services, and neighborhoods keep their character instead of losing shops to vacancy signs.

Norcross is proving that economic development doesn't always mean chasing new companies. Sometimes the best growth comes from helping your current neighbors succeed, expand, and stick around for decades to come.

The department now has its own website where residents can follow projects and celebrate wins together.