National Night Out | Oct. 5, 2021

National Night Out (NNO) is a community police partnership that aims to:

• Generate support and participation in local anti-crime programs,
• Heighten crime prevention awareness,
• Send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are fighting back, and
• Strengthen nei...

One Picnic, One Depot | April 22, 2021

Spend Earth Day enjoying a lunch picnic in the park with family and friends or settle in with dinner while listening to Gregg Gelb and his Heart of Carolina Jazz Band at Depot Park. Too busy to stop in? Grab a to-go box for the office or home. 

Do...

Sanford Block Party | April 23, 2022

This year’s Sanford Block Party will focus on N. First Street, N. Second Street, N. Third Street, and N. Fourth Street as well as Midland Avenue and North Avenue.

Led by host churches East Sanford Baptist Church and Jonesboro UMC, the block party brings to...

Downtown StreetFest & Fireworks | Oct. 9, 2021

UPDATE: Due to concerns about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and because of the virus’ financial impact on local businesses, the Downtown StreetFest & Fireworks Festival has been cancelled for 2020. Unfortunately, the festival relies on local bu...

Notification of Wastewater Spill in Lee County

House Bill 1160, which the General Assembly enacted in July 1999, requires that municipalities, animal operations, industries, and others who operate waste handling systems issue news releases when a waste spill of l,000 gallons or more reaches surface wa...

City Seeks Applicants for Several Board Vacancies

The City of Sanford seeks applicants for several municipal boards, commissions, and committees. Members help make recommendations and decisions that better the lives of all residents.

The current vacancies are:

• One healthcare/medical position on the America...

City Approves New Water Service Rates

At its June 1 meeting, Sanford City Council approved the City of Sanford’s budget for fiscal year 2021-2022, which includes new rates for water services. 

The City’s water rate will increase by 12 percent and its wastewater rat...

Sanford to Celebrate National Night Out on October 5

NNO will be held the first Tuesday in October for residents inside Sanford's city limits.

Proposed Budget for FY 2021-22 Presented to Sanford City Council

City Manager Hal Hegwer presented the Proposed Annual Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22 at the May 18, 2021 meeting of the Sanford City Council.

Each year, the budget is proposed is in accordance with Chapter 159-11 of the North Carolina General Sta...

Mayor Rescinds Emergency Declaration and Mask Order

Governor Roy Cooper announced today that the State of North Carolina has removed its indoor mask mandate for most settings, effective at 1:30 p.m. per Executive Order 215.

In response, Sanford Mayor Chet Mann has rescinded the declaration of a state of eme...

New Broadband Benefit Available for Low-Income Households

The Universal Service Fund has announced that residents can now enroll in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which provides a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills for qualifying low-income households.

This cost assistance program provides a ...

City of Sanford Amps Up Litter Collection on Municipal Streets

The City of Sanford has contracted R.A.C.O Artsee Expression, LLC to assist with litter collection along approximately 60 miles of municipal roadways, which includes both shoulders.

Typically, the City contracts with the Sanford Correctional Center’s (SCC)...

Free Wi-Fi Now Available in Downtown Sanford

Lee County Government, the City of Sanford, and Downtown Sanford, Inc. have partnered to provide free Wi-Fi access to a section of the downtown area.

Called “Open Sanford,” the Wi-Fi network is powered by Open Broadband, a hybrid fiber and fixed wireless I...

Ten Routes in Lee County to Be Repaved

The following information from the N.C. Department of Transportation is shared as a courtesy to City of Sanford residents. Please contact NCDOT for further information.

A smoother ride is coming to several secondary roads in Lee County. 

The N.C. D...

Sanford to Celebrate National Night Out on October 5

The City of Sanford will celebrate National Night Out on the first Tuesday in October this year.

Although it has typically celebrated NNO on the first Tuesday in August, the City has scheduled its event on the first Tuesday of October to take advantage of ...

Burn Ban for NC Counties Lifted

Effective Wednesday, June 2, 2021, the N.C. Forest Service has lifted the burn ban for all 26 North Carolina counties. Find more information here.

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Due to increased fire risk, the N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has cancele...

Abzena Selects Sanford for New Facility

The City of Sanford is sharing this information from the Sanford Area Growth Alliance as a courtesy to our residents.

Abzena, a life-sciences group headquartered in San Diego, California with other sites across the US and Europe, will ope...

Depot Renovation Campaign to Host Community Picnic

Spend Earth Day enjoying a lunch picnic in the park with family and friends or settle in with dinner while listening to Gregg Gelb and his Heart of Carolina Jazz Band at Depot Park. Too busy to stop in? Grab a to-go box for the office or home. 

Do...

Rotary Club HERO Project Donates $1K to Sanford Fire Department

Sanford Rotary Club and Jonesboro Rotary Club along with Rotary District 7690 have donated $1,000 to the Sanford Fire Department to purchase a radio battery conditioner/analyzer.

The donation was made by the Rotary Clubs’ Honoring Emergency/First...

Sanford Named Top-5 Micropolitan Area

Sanford, North Carolina was recently recognized as a 2020 top Micropolitan Area, placing fifth in the United States, according to Site Selection Magazine. The complete ranking was released in the publication’s March issue, the Sanford Area Growt...

Pilgrim’s to Build Sanford Agricultural Marketplace with Hometown Strong Funds

In October, Pilgrim’s announced a $515,000 investment in Sanford, NC, to support the community’s future through the company’s Hometown Strong program. Pilgrim’s has been working with local leaders to determine where...

Citizens' Academy Graduates Showcase Sanford's Black History

Three local women, including two graduates of the Sanford Citizens’ Academy, have set out to preserve Sanford’s strong history of Black entrepreneurship, education, activism, and art.

Historians and Sanford natives Carol Deese and Joan...

More Public Art Planned for Charlie Watson Lane

Charlie Watson Lane in downtown Sanford is slated for $20,000 in public art, lighting, and security enhancements, thanks to grants from local community nonprofits and the City of Sanford Public Arts Fund.

Charlie Watson Lane is the official name of the all...

NCDOT Awarded Grant for Passenger Rail in Sanford

The N.C. Department of Transportation has been awarded a grant to help bring passenger rail to Sanford and other North Carolina communities between Virginia and South Carolina.

The Federal Transit Authority granted NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division $900...

Health Department Offers Drive-Thru COVID Testing Events

The following information is provided by Lee County Government and is shared as a courtesy to Sanford residents.

Lee County Government (LCG) Health Department announced they are partnering with Optum Health and North Carolina Department of Health and Human...

Customer Service Department Provides Thanksgiving Meals

The City of Sanford’s customer service department has provided a Thanksgiving meal for two local water customers.

The department wanted to surprise families in need for the holiday. They identified two local customers who have fallen on hard time...

Duke Energy Awards City $5k for Equity Taskforce

Duke Energy has awarded the City of Sanford a $5,000 grant for its racial equity initiative.

The grant is part of Duke Energy’s commitment to social justice and racial equity in North Carolina. Earlier this year, the company announced an annual s...

NCDOT Seeks Public Input on Draft Statewide Trail Network

After more than 11,000 North Carolinians shared their thoughts on the Great Trails State Plan survey, the North Carolina Department of Transportation is seeking public input on a first draft of the proposed network.

The Great Trails State Plan is an NCDOT-...

Pilgrim’s to Invest $515,000 in Local Community

Pilgrim’s has announced plans to invest $515,000 in Sanford/Lee County as part of its Hometown Strong Initiative to support local communities and help respond to needs resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Hometown Strong Initiative focuse...