Normally, one town competes against others to land a coveted new industry in their respective communities — but what if all local governments in the same area pooled their resources and worked together?

Doing just that is part of a long-range plan now being considered by leaders in Surry County to create “multijurisdictional” industrial parks.

Under such an arrangement, all municipalities in Surry — along with the county government — would contribute tax revenues to develop such sites, thereby preventing situations in which one town exhausts its resources for a project.

Then, when the facility is filled with tenants, all those who contributed would receive tax revenues that result based on what they invested in the project.

This idea was discussed Thursday at a meeting of the City-County Liaison Committee, a group of Mount Airy and Surry County representatives who pursue joint projects.

It stemmed from officials outlining plans to extend utilities to Piedmont Triad West Corporate Park in Mount Airy, where only two prime sites are left, both of which are in the 30-acre range.

Todd Tucker, the president of the Surry County Economic Development Partnership (EDP), told officials Thursday that they should be exploring long-range availability of industrial park space after Piedmont Triad West is exhausted. The only other such facility in Mount Airy is Westwood Industrial Park, where slightly more than 100 acres remain.

“We need to work on getting that one done as well, I think,” Tucker said, pointing out that some topographical issues exist with that property.

The EDP official thinks local leaders should start looking ahead toward developing future industrial parks, to have space available when all existing sites in Mount Airy and elsewhere in the county are occupied. That also includes existing buildings, such as the former Bassett Furniture property on Sheep Farm Road.

Tucker suggested that the multijurisdictional approach be taken for future industrial park projects, preferably larger sites involving participation by Mount Airy, Dobson, Pilot Mountain and Elkin, as well as county government.

He said the first step would be exploring the county for the best acreage. Based on the location selected, determinations would have to be made concerning water and sewer infrastructure and how support services such as police and fire protection would be provided.

“All that gets worked out in these interlocal agreements,” Tucker said of formal arrangements developed among local governmental units as part of the process.

Both city and county officials reacted positively to the proposal Thursday.

“I like the idea a lot on the surface,” said Todd Harris, a member of the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners. “I really like the synergy of it.”

However, Harris said that while he applauded the concept of eliminating competition for new industry among entities in the same county and combining resources, he believes Surry has certain geographical differences to consider. He specifically mentioned the fact that Elkin is somewhat cut off from the other municipalities.

“I wonder what would happen if one entity decided not to participate?” Harris said.

Tucker said that while Elkin has been exploring its own multijurisdictional plans with neighboring Wilkes County, it’s best to have all those in Surry involved. “My goal would be to get everyone on board,” the EDP official said.

“We would participate regardless of the numbers,” added Craig Hunter, the chairman of the Surry County Board of Commissioners.

No specific timetable has been laid out for the plan, which officials agreed will require much planning and coordination to be successful.

“It’s not an easy process,” Tucker acknowledged. “But it can be done — others have done it.”

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.