Sanford Area Growth Alliance

WHAT IS A “HAIR CEREMONY?” 💇 Channeled Energies in Jonesboro is putting a twist on hairstyling. Owner/RISE Grant Winner Sheena Morrill’s salon creates a relaxing environment for the perfect wash and blow-out, complete with non-toxic products that make you look and feel good. 🌱 Her “Hair Ceremony” service starts with a grounding exercise (if you’ve ever done yoga, she uses a similar form of guided deep breathing to calm clients before they begin the appointment). Once the client is calm and collected, she asks them questions about their scalp and hair history. 🧘 The next step is a lovely dry massage with essential oils (Sheena describes it as “a facial for the scalp”), then a gentle wash and condition made even better with a heated seat and scalp steaming. Clients have the option of leaving the salon with their newly cleansed hair or adding on a luxurious blowdry. 👱 We had so much fun trying this service. Congratulations to Sheena on the opening of her new space! We are incredibly proud of all of our RISE participants and of our partnership with Central Carolina Community College and DOWNTOWN SANFORD INC! Visit her website to book an appointment: https://lnkd.in/gsKGKH-F #hair #salon #shoplocal #playlocal #community #sanfordnc #leecounty

🏨 I NEED A #STAYCATION! 🏨 Sanford’s newest hotel, Home2Suites by Hilton, makes it possible to enjoy the comforts of a getaway without traveling far from home. 🏠 The hotel began its soft opening earlier this month, and we were able to tour the space! Here’s a rundown of what makes Home2Suites the perfect place to enjoy your summer break ☀️: 🏨 An outdoor porch with plush furniture, a firepit, and a grilling area are the perfect place to bask in the sun with a book 🏨 A coffee nook and breakfast bar provide treats for guests each morning… and it’s complimentary with their stay 🏨 An indoor gym complete with a laundry room to get fit while beating the summer heat 🏨 The indoor pool with poolside loungers is a great place to cool off after a workout 🏨 Luxurious suites complete with a kitchenette, luxury bathroom, and sitting area provide a space to relax and unwind Tell us when you’re booking your stay in the comments below! Crown Hotel & Travel Management Carolina Commercial Contractors, LLC #home2suites #hilton #hotel #staycation #summer #shoplocal #staylocal #sanford #leecounty #community

Help us support Lee County Schools by donating supplies for New Teacher Welcome Bags! Drop off pens, pencils, notebooks, or related materials at our office. We are located at 115 Chatham Street, Sanford, NC 27330. Businesses are also welcome to donate marketing materials for our bags to spread the word about their services. We appreciate your help! #teacher #school #welcome #leecounty

🌟117,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING READY FOR UPFIT AVAILABLE NOW!🌟 The Sanford Area Growth Alliance is seeking a tenant for our Central Carolina Enterprise Park Shell Building! This 18+ acre property with a graded expansion pad is the perfect place to grow your business. It can be expandable to 236,000 square feet. Other features include 26 foot clear ceilings and 19 dock doors. The Shell Building’s central location is another major asset to the property. Easy access to four lane US 1 makes commuting a breeze, as well as being only 40 minutes to Raleigh, Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), and Research Triangle Park. This space’s proximity to a labor force of 800,000 people within a 45 minute drive truly sets it apart. Make it yours today by emailing Todd Tucker, CEcD at [email protected] or calling him at 919-775-7341 ext. 1500. #Biomanufacturing #LifeSciences #Innovation #SanfordNC #EconomicDevelopment

On June 19th, SAGA’s Communications Coordinator, Campbell Wheby, visited Coty’s Sanford location to observe as they hosted as many as 150 Women and Minority NC State College of Engineering students visiting the site. 🧪 Their day consisted of a site overview, presentations from COTY employees who are North Carolina State University graduates, and a plant tour. Campbell attended the plant tour portion of the morning, and she had the best time! 🧑🔬 She observed the students as they sampled various products, watched as everything from lotions to nail polishes were produced, and spoke with Coty’s Administrative Business Partner, Devan Cruz, about how she manages their media. 💅 Thank you to Coty for hosting us! #Coty #stem #engineering #tour #factory #cosmetics #sanfordnc #leecounty

⭐Member Spotlight⭐ For this Spotlight, we are featuring businesses that care about your health AND your general well-being. 🧑⚕️ Prana Health and FirstCarolinaCare Insurance Company pride themselves on providing personal experiences for all of their customers in Sanford and Lee County. Prana Health’s first Sanford practice opened last year, with its owner, Dr. Rahul Kakkar having worked for Pinehurst Medical Clinic for several years prior. The practice’s name, “Prana,” refers to the life and energies that drive the universe, as well as the breath and life in each person. Dr. Kakkar’s treatments for pulmonary issues, sleep disorders, and allergies all center around holistic treatment through lifestyle changes rather than over medicating patients, truly living up to the concept of “prana.” Dr. Kakkar enjoys serving patients in our community because of their warmth and kindness, which he reflects in turn. Visit Doctors Kakkar and Bunao’s office at 4546 NC Hwy 87 South. 🩺 First Carolina Care Insurance Company is a provider-owned, not for profit, health insurance company in North Carolina that offers both employer-based coverage as well as Medicare coverage. Their goal is to keep local employers' healthcare dollars in the community. First Carolina Care has provided service for 25 years, providing service to Lee County for decades. The company was founded by Pinehurst-based FirstHealth of the Carolinas. Their high level of client retention shows their devotion to those they serve, with local access and a personal touch setting them apart from competitors. They joined the Chamber to be better connected to the community and participate more in local events as they expand outside of Moore County. Thank you to Prana Health and First Carolina Care for making our community happier and healthier! ❤️🩹 #MemberSpotlight #ChamberofCommerce #SAGA #SanfordNC #LeeCounty #Community

Sanford Area Growth Alliance and NC State’s Rural Internship program joined forces last Friday to give 11 NC State College of Engineering interns the opportunity to join SAGA’s Crystal Gaddy for a tour of Sanford and Lee County’s diverse manufacturing culture, showing them how they can WORK, PLAY, LIVE, LEE! Crystal, alongside retired Economic Developer Bob Joyce, provided historical background and highlighted Sanford’s success in attracting manufacturing giants like Caterpillar Inc. and Pfizer. They wove a compelling narrative about the industries that have thrived in Sanford, a trend that has continued since Sanford’s inception due to its advantageous workforce, geography, and community support. The group had the honor of hearing from Thomas J. White who shared his invaluable insights on Lee County’s major projects, including Bharat Forge Aluminum USA, Inc.’s decision to locate there. The students were treated to a tour of Sanford’s Pentair facility by Site Leader Brian Frost and Pentair intern Swetha Pugalenthi. The Pentair team conducted a site safety briefing followed by a comprehensive journey through the production facility, showcasing advances in automation and process efficiency. This engaging opportunity concluded with the Pentair team’s unique perspective on what makes Sanford the “place to be.” Students toured Lee County to explore various sights, from housing to parks and restaurants, broadening their understanding of the Sanford area. They enjoyed lunch at Smoke & Barrel in downtown Sanford, followed by a walking tour of downtown Sanford murals led by Liz Whitmore. The group then headed to Jonesboro for refreshing drinks at Brick City Boba and an engaging conversation with Sanford’s Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon. She shared her vision for Sanford’s future growth, encouraging students to become involved in their chosen community, and expressing a desire to welcome them to Sanford. The tour continued towards Broadway, highlighting Central Carolina Community College and the Moore Center as essential workforce resources for local industries and showcasing the specialized training capabilities available. The drive included a discussion of all the County and City Park amenities and the significant investments Lee County Government and City of Sanford, NC have made in their future, including a view of the Lee County Athletic Park site. The final stop on the tour was the Moen Sanford Facility. The group received unparalleled expert knowledge from Earlene Ross and Matthew Cordell as they toured the site, gaining a new appreciation for faucets. The tour highlighted safety and quality features at the site. Special thanks to Anna Mangum of NCSU IES for her partnership and Dr. Jerome Lavelle for his support and student engagement on the tour! We also appreciate Courtney Holcomb of Bharat Forge and Jerry Pedley of Mertek Solutions for their assistance with the tour. #SAGA #shoplocal #supportlocal #engineering #stem #ncstate

Last Thursday evening, the Sanford Area Growth Alliance’s Chamber of Commerce got “Caught In the Web!” 🕸️ We had a unique session of Business After Hours in partnership with the Sanford Spinners. 🕷️ Our local baseball team was formed post World War II in 1946 and has been revived in recent years. The most recent iteration of the Spinners is owned by Al Anderson and managed by Carl Bryan, Ed.D. (or, as he is better known around town, “Mr. Wendy Bryan (Director of Visit Sanford).” Bryan’s team consists of an array of college baseball players vying for more playtime to improve their stats over the summer; because they are from all over the United States, they live with host families during their time in Lee County. 🏠 Bryan has revamped the team’s presence in our community, giving game nights a new energy with local food trucks including Broadway’s Pop Heaven, an adorable bat dog, and even karaoke during each inning. Our BAH included free popcorn from Pop Heaven, introductions from several team members, raffle prizes including Spinners merch of all kinds, and our CEO, Jimmy Randolph, throwing the first pitch! Be sure to catch one of their games this season! What is your favorite local sports team? Tell us in the comments below! #community #baseball #shoplocal #sports #summer #summerfun #funinthesun #sanfordspinners #getcaughtintheweb

Deep River Sporting Clays and Shooting School gave out one of the swankiest raffle prizes in SAGA history at last Thursday’s AM Buzz! Owner Ed Strickland donated a gift certificate for someone to enjoy the services at his business… it was valued at around $200! What a steal! We had a lovely morning venturing out to Deep River for the event! If you haven’t been to the space, it includes several gun ranges and a clubhouse with lots of merchandise, from shotguns to scented candles. Attendees enjoyed breakfast from Mrs. Lacy’s Magnolia House, networking with the help of guided topics from Kelly Klug of Central Carolina Community College and, of course, our raffle! Thank you to everyone who attended! Have you been to Deep River Sporting Clays? Tell us about your experience in the comments! #SAGA #ChamberofCommerce #AMBuzz #coffee #networking #SmallBusiness #shoplocal #supportlocal

Yesterday, SAGA paid a visit to Central Carolina Community College’s Moore Center Open House. We were able to see floor plans, concept drawings, and some really cool robots. 🤖 We thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the plans for this space, which include an extension of their BioWorks program. The building’s design will be similar to that of laboratory work environments to further prepare students for the workplace. 🧪 Students can currently sign up for the BioWorks program, which is designed to be compatible with future coursework through the Moore Center. Thank you to CCCC for all that you do for our community. We can’t wait to see the finished project! #stem #biotech #bioworks #careerdevelopment #education #college #community #SanfordNC #LeeCounty #cccc