SEMIINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved The Tourism Improvement District procedural ordinance, so county leaders can move forward with a proposal to begin more tourism projects in the area.

Fifty percent of hoteliers within the Tourism Improvement District plan next must sign a petition of agreement for tourism projects. The county would then have a second vote on the topic at a later date.

According to a county spokesperson, it's an idea that's been in the works for about three years.

County officials estimate the amount of direct tourism spending last year was about $740 million — which included an estimated 2.2 million people visiting hotel-hub cities like Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary and Sanford.

One business owner in Sanford said she thinks the idea would help everyone in the county.

“We have a lot of people that do the train and the snowbirds, and we get them every season," said Jenna Stephens, who owns Donuts To Go. "When they come in, they get their donuts on their way in, on their way out. We’re their first stop. We have a lot of people just coming for a fun visit and we’re on their list.”

Stephens, who has been in business for about 13 years, said on a slow day they sell about 1,000 donuts. But she said the number can top 4,000 on the store's busiest days, which are Thursday, Friday and Saturday. By Sunday, Stephens said they are nearly all sold out.

“Yesterday, I came in just to drop something off and we had a line outside of the door," she said. "I had to make coffee, I had to clean tables, it’s just what you have to do."

Despite the crowd, Stephens said she hopes to see the demand for donuts increase with more tourists stopping by.

“We all support each other, so if people are getting heads to beds, that’s helping us, and helping us see more growth in our business,” she said.