The city and Suncor Investments Inc. of Heathrow, FL are close to signing a deal on the project which could break ground in September, area brokers tell GlobeSt.com.

The venture, near Lake Monroe at Sanford Avenue and First Street in Downtown Sanford, would have a 500-car parking garage; a 3,000-seat amphitheater; a 20,000-sf ballroom; and would rely on a nearby remodeled Best Western Marina hotel to house conference attendees. Suncor is expected to close shortly on the purchase of the hotel for an undisclosed price, according to a published report.

The conference center project would tie in with another Suncor enterprise approved last week by the Sanford planning board. That project, just west of City Hall along Lake Monroe, would have 36 condominiums, 64 townhomes and an undetermined amount of retail and office.