Editorial: Cooperation is key to economic development

Cooperation has been mentioned frequently in this space over the past few weeks, most recently as the City Council and School Board discussed how to spend tax money in Waynesboro. But more of a big-picture look at working in concert was held Wednesday.

Governmental leaders from River City, Augusta County and Staunton met to talk about the need to align forces in the quest to bring more jobs and industry to the region.

That’s excellent news, and here’s why:

About six years ago, Augusta County was in the running to land a $1.3 billion Toyota SUV assembly plant, but the locality eventually lost out.

It’s unfortunate that the factory didn’t end up here, but where it did go is instructive for the future.

The Tupelo, Miss., area scored the plant when Pontotoc, Union and Lee counties each took a chance on $10 million bond issues to buy the site — on speculation — where Toyota ended up.

It was a gamble, yes, but the component that Valley officials should focus on, as was mentioned Wednesday, is not the gamble, but the cooperation. The Mississippi localities came together for the common good. The Toyota project was put on hold when the recession struck, but it’s now open and expects eventually to employ 2,000 people.

It was encouraging to hear county Board of Supervisors Chairman Tracy Pyles and new board members Marshall Pattie and David Karaffa include regional economic development cooperation in their election campaigns last year, and it’s even better to see them, their colleagues and their peers in the two cities talking about marketing the region as a whole, and focusing on key assets such as Augusta Health, Blue Ridge Community College and the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport.

Mike Lehmkuhler, managing director for strategic properties/projects and business development for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, also urged officials to tout the region’s prime location near interstates 64 and 81 when talking with potential suitors. And he mentioned several industrial sites around the state that have been developed as a joint project of a county and city.

Perhaps his best comment, though? He said he could sense a different attitude in the region from when he was here a few years ago.

That means our leaders are taking a step in the right direction. Now, they just need to continue the journey.