Ripple Commentary

The watchword in recent years in economic development and grant-writing circles has been regionalism.

Again regionalism is paying off for the Tri-County Area and it makes sense.

Surry, Yadkin and Wilkes counties are included among seven counties and one town in northwestern North Carolina and southern Virginia in a tourism collaborative.

The group in negotiations for three years has recently been dubbed The Cascade Highlands.

It is the brainchild of Surry Commissioner Jim Harrell Jr. and others interested in the tourism potential for heritage arts in the mountain to foothills area that we live in.

Harrell has a knack for negotiating and forging agreements and believes that the region can prove itself a destination for tourists. Woodcrafts, pottery and music along withthe beautiful surroundings could be a common link throughout the Cascade Highlands.

Those things seem a likely draw for a large number and broad range of people.

A considerable number of those people are likely to be interested in wine as well.

So it makes sense to consider contributing to the larger effort that will draw people to the region.

Harrell's argument is that the region can raise significant amounts of money that can go farther in promoting the wide range of interests and geography.

The region also seems to have impressed the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, which recently provided $75,000 for seed money to the Cascade Highlands to help get things going over the next two years.

The money will be used to develop a business plan, branding, programs, guide map and a brochure.

It will be slow and steady progress that brings us from the decline of the textile and furniture industries of our area to a tourism-based economy.

Thankfully Harrell and other community leaders have seen this potential and had the vision to press for it.