Tricia Feliu, Executive Director, Greater Sanford Regional Chamber of Commerce
In an interview with Invest:, Tricia Feliu, executive director of the Greater Sanford Regional Chamber of Commerce, talked about the chamber’s growth and community support, highlighting events like Porchfest and the Pints n’ Paws Craft Beer Festival. Feliu emphasized the evolving role of chambers, advocating for local businesses and nonprofits, and attracting residents through engagement with schools and job fairs.
What is the landscape for the chamber and for Sanford?
The chamber is growing very quickly. We are a legacy chamber that was established in 1920, so we are over 100 years old. Regarding Sanford, the city’s growth and potential are amazing; we are the up-and-coming place to be. We have a lot of amazing events and a community that truly supports one another’s businesses and organizations. I love events like PorchFest and Pints n’ Paws that support the arts and pet rescue, respectively. All of our businesses are super supportive.
Where are the greatest opportunities as it relates to economic development?
The city is growing at a rapid pace. The same is true for our membership. A lot of new businesses are coming into town, including Wayne Densch, Ritz Theatre, and Father’s Table, but there is still plenty of opportunity to grow further. We just changed our weekly Business Connections location to Decision Tactical, a new business that opened at the old Seminole movie theater and offers law enforcement training for departments all over the state of Florida.
How has the role of chambers evolved?
There was a point in time when not a lot of people were accessing their chamber and using it as a tool, but I think it is coming back. If you come to the chamber’s website and look at the directory, you are going to be dealing with someone who is a full-fledged community supporter. We need to re-educate people to the benefits of going to and being part of the chamber.
How does the chamber contribute to improving diversity, equity and inclusion?
DEI is important to the chamber and we improve that by supporting one another and creating a strong community. Working with the other local chambers will create a stronger bond and make the community a stronger place for all people and businesses to thrive. Showing support for one another and being committed to making a better community is ingrained in our history.
Considering the growth happening across the region, how is the chamber helping businesses in terms of workforce?
We are going to job fairs and getting involved with the public school system. We really are so lucky to have high schools with great magnet programs. This gives students a great head start, but our goal is for them to come back to the community once they are done with college and become contributing members here.
What are businesses looking for when they join the chamber?
They are looking for more events where they can get in front of or meet politicians and decision-makers in the area. They want to expand their connections. They want to see new faces and meet fellow business owners and to have the ability to ask commissioners and state representatives questions pertaining to the growth of their business.
Are there any specific sectors the chamber is targeting?
We are very accepting of a wide range of businesses and especially entrepreneurs. Anybody who is willing to invest in the community we consider to be valuable. We still have so much opportunity for development with all the growth that is happening and potential relocations to the downtown area.
What should investors keep in mind when considering the region?
We are known for our entertainment but there is a lot of opportunity for many things. St. John’s Rivership, which offers river and dining cruises, is an example. The new owner is doing great things with ecological tours and Wine Wednesdays, teaching about the history of Sanford. The entertainment and festivals here are also very family-friendly. but it is great for singles as well. There is so much to do from east to west.
What are the near-term priorities for the chamber?
We used to have about four main events that we intend to bring back. These include State of the City and Taste of Sanford as well as our Annual Gala. These events give members more opportunities to meet and support each other.
I have been in the Seminole County area since 1997 and I am just super-excited to be a tool for so many people and to connect them in many different ways. It feels like I’ve really found my purpose.
