With the recent actions by the Lee County Board of Commissioners and the Sanford City Council to position our community to compete nationally for Project Sol, many residents are excited about another life sciences company choosing Lee County for its next location. This announcement represents a significant commitment in new jobs, private investment, and future tax base growth. Large economic development projects naturally generate excitement, create opportunities for job seekers, and showcase the strength and competitiveness of our community.
While welcoming this opportunity, it is equally important to keep our focus on what drives the majority of our economic success: the businesses that are already here.
Nationally, more than 70% of a community’s economic growth comes from the expansion and success of existing businesses. In Lee County, with our strong manufacturing base and the network of suppliers and service providers that support it, that percentage is even higher. Existing industries continue to reinvest, innovate, and create opportunities that strengthen our economy year after year.
One example is Seal It Services, located in Jonesboro, which has been an important part of our community since 2016. Over the past decade, the company has continued to grow its operations, create jobs, and invest in its Lee County facility. Most recently, Seal It expanded its product offerings through renovations that added more than 6,000 square feet of production and packaging space for its sealants and coatings manufacturing operations. The project also included improvements to office space and employee break areas, creating a more modern and welcoming work environment. Investments like these do more than improve day-to-day operations. They preserve valuable industrial assets, extend the useful life of manufacturing facilities, and ensure these buildings remain productive resources for decades to come, whether for the current occupant or future generations of industry.
These investments are more than building improvements. Upgraded production lines increase efficiency, support the introduction of new products, and strengthen the facility’s long-term competitiveness. Today, products manufactured and packaged in Lee County include roof coatings, bath and tile silicones, Astro Pro artificial turf adhesive, and one of the company’s best-known products, self-fusing silicone repair tape, found on the shelves of hardware stores across the country. The continued success of these products has resulted in the addition of a second production shift for the self-fusing silicone tape line and the creation of new employment opportunities.
While major project announcements often capture the headlines, it is the steady reinvestment of companies like Seal It that builds long-term economic resilience. At Sanford Area Growth Alliance, our commitment extends beyond recruiting new employers. We are equally dedicated to supporting the companies that have chosen to invest in Lee County, helping them expand, innovate, and succeed. Together, new recruitment and existing industry growth create the balanced, sustainable economy that will continue to move Sanford and Lee County forward.