Sanford Area Growth Alliance

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

Today is Juneteenth, or Freedom Day. The holiday marks the anniversary of when the last of the enslaved Americans learned of the Emancipation Proclamation and were formally freed. SAGA acknowledges the struggle that people of color in America faced prior to Emancipation and today. We celebrate the accomplishments of people of color in our community and beyond, and we will continue to strive for freedom and equality for all. #Juneteenth #FreedomDay

As our 2023-2024 Leadership Sanford Cohort has spent the last year learning, good leaders are a major part of bringing positive change to their respective communities. This year’s class has gone above and beyond in their involvement in the program, their enthusiasm to learn, and in the way they represent Sanford and Lee County. We celebrated the end of the program with a delicious brunch at Gigi’s Creations Catering. The morning concluded with remarks from Chamber Director Susan Gomez, SAGA CEO Jimmy Randolph, and a graduation ceremony. 🎓 CONGRATULATIONS to our 2023-2024 Leadership Sanford Cohort! We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments, and we can’t wait to see what you do next! 🥳 Paola Adame, Business Strategy Manager at Pfizer Crystal Gaddy, Business Retention & Expansion Manager at Sanford Area Growth Alliance Courtney Holcomb, HR Manager at Bharat Forge Aluminum USA, Inc. Chrishinda Horton, Owner and Broker of Horton Realty Inc Emily Jordan, Customer Service Representative at Raleigh Executive Jetport Joshua Lucas, Quality Assurance Senior Associate at Pfizer Yahaira Matos, Complex HR Manager at Pilgrim's Garrison Ogdenski, Owner of GO Electric Ricky Secor, Director of Federal Programs for Lee County Schools Ed Strickland, Owner and President of Deep River Sporting Clays and Shooting School Todd Tucker, CEcD Tucker, Economic Development Director at Sanford Area Growth Alliance Wallie Tyler, Site Health, Safety & Environmental Manager at Coty #leadership #saga #community #shopsmall #shoplocal #sanfordnc

This week, the US Open takes North Carolina by storm! While the tournament is played in Pinehurst, NC, the economic impact can be felt here in Sanford, from all of our hotels being completely booked to our local golf courses welcoming players from all over the world! ⛳ To celebrate, we visited Tobacco Road Golf Course, Sanford Municipal Golf Course, Carolina Trace Country Club, and Quail Ridge Golf Course. Get a taste of the Open from home by #playinglocal! 🏌️ Tobacco Road Golf Course, managed by Scooter Buhrman, PGA, provides unique amenities to all who visit, including a cabin on the green! The space can house up to four people and includes golf cart access so players can enjoy rounds of golf at their leisure. Play a few holes and stay a while! David Von Canon, PGA, of Sanford Municipal Golf Course, is proud to offer a unique and inclusive golfing experience to people of all ages and backgrounds. The Municipal Golf Course is owned by the City of Sanford, giving the range a lower-than-average price point. We are proud to have such an accessible course in our community! During our visit to Quail Ridge Golf Course, Golf Course Manager Dale Fogerty told us that the US Open has brought a slight increase in the amount of “Out-of-Towners” that visit his course. Their numbers have been consistently strong all year, and they are pleased to welcome new faces to the area. Jeffrey Taylor, PGA, of Carolina Trace Country Club, says that he directs visitors to all of the great restaurants and activities that they can partake in within Sanford. Thank you for representing our town so well! #USOpen #golf #playlocal #sanfordnc #leecounty #shoplocal #shopsmall #sports #tourism

🌟117,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING READY FOR UPFIT AVAILABLE NOW!🌟 The Sanford Area Growth Alliance is looking for 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, 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 Tucker at [email protected] or calling him at 919-775-7341 ext. 1500. #Biomanufacturing #LifeSciences #Innovation #SanfordNC #EconomicDevelopment