In the past week, 525 new jobs have been announced in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

Qual Tex Labs, a San Antonio-based  medical company that screens blood and plasma is investing $12 million over the next five years and is planning to hire around 125 new employees.

Web Industries announced adding as many as 250 new workers, and Spectral Response, an electronic contract manufacturer is adding about 150 new positions.

“We happened to have a plan in place in 2006 called Partnership Gwinnett which got us very focused on targeting high paying industries,” Nick Masino, Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Economic Development said Tuesday.  “We ramped up our initiative in 2007.  At the same time this economic crisis began.  We were ready for it.  We were prepared for it.  That’s why as a region, we’re doing better than the rest of the southeast.”