Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE - The Georgia Gwinnett College Foundation has purchased a 70,000-square-foot building adjacent to the college campus on Collins Hill Road, officials announced Friday.

The building currently houses Valentine Enterprises, a producer of health and nutrition powders, Georgia Gwinnett spokeswoman Jennifer Stephens said. The company will lease back the building from the foundation for three years while it constructs new facilities in the county.

The $4 million purchase, which included 6.3 acres of land, was purchased using private funds from the college foundation. GGC Foundation President Gordon Harrison said the title of the building and land will eventually be transferred to the college.

"This is an outstanding purchase that allows us to secure the southeastern corner of the campus," said Harrison, who is also the college's vice president of advancement. "Since the new GGC master campus plan orients the campus to our Collins Hill Road entrance, the Valentine building becomes an important strategic purchase."

Valentine Enterprises is next to a building the foundation purchased from Plumbing Distributors Inc., which will house the college's admissions, financial aid and student services offices. The new purchase will eventually be used for office and warehouse storage space, Stephens said.