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Three cheers are in order for the governing bodies of Carroll County, Grayson County and the City of Galax for stepping up efforts to cooperate together for the betterment of the entire region.

The three governing bodies, which together form the Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority, held a rare joint meeting March 26 at The Crossroads Institute in Galax. During the meeting, the three signed a joint resolution to “invite all local governments, local citizens, groups, and civic organizations to join in making a commitment to creating and implementing a comprehensive regional plan for the future of our region that celebrates the uniqueness of our communities while recognizing that we are bound together by the natural, cultural, and human assets with which we have been blessed.”

It is great to see the three localities working together to move forward to design the future economic development of the region. It seems as if another plant closes or another round of layoffs are announced with each passing month. The localities see the obvious need to cooperate together.

“Working together as three is stronger than working as one,” Carroll County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sam Dickson said.

Just in the past 15 months, the alliance between the three localities has already brought many exciting new opportunities and endeavors to the region such as the XM Satellite Call Center in Galax, multiple grants, and the development of the Wired Road project for broadband deployment in the region. Such accomplishments arguably would not have been possible without the collaboration and efforts of all three localities.

Greater economic benefits can be achieved with a comprehensive plan for regional economic renewal that provides a clear direction and calls all who serve the people of our communities to join together to use the available resources to develop a sustainable local economy that provides opportunities for jobs and needed core services for our people.

By inviting local governments, citizens, groups and civic organizations in making similar commitments, the Twin County region can do nothing but grow and become stronger because of these partnerships.