Alabama Power official Leslie Sanders told the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce about its importance in retaining and recruiting local businesses.

“You can be part of Chilton County’s economic success story,” Sanders, vice president of Alabama Power’s Southern Division, said at the chamber’s monthly luncheon, which was held at Clanton First United Methodist Church.

Sanders talked about her company’s unique relationship to Chilton County, which once presented a special gift to Alabama Power founder William Lay.

Chilton is home to 240 Alabama Power retirees, many of whom are members of the Energizers club that performs community service projects.

Sanders highlighted many successful local businesses and said that communication is key to building such operations. She also that 80 percent of economic growth in the coming years will be accounted for by existing businesses expanding.

“In business, every day brings a new challenge,” said Sanders, a 25-year Alabama Power veteran.

Peggy Hall, the chamber’s president, announced that next month’s luncheon speaker would be Tommy Bice, the Alabama Superintendent of Education. That meeting is scheduled for April 2.