Mount Airy Mayor Deborah Cochran, along with commissioner Dean Brown and city Community Development Director Martin Collins took a drive to Winston-Salem earlier this week.

But their trip was much more than a simple visit to that city.

The three were on a mission to talk with Winston-Salem officials — including the city’s mayor, Allen Joines, and its deputy manager, Derwick Paige — about opening up a partnership between the two cities, one in which they would work jointly in recruiting new industry and business to the area.

When Cochran took office little more than a month ago, she promised to work toward bringing jobs to the area (as she and Brown did when they won commission seats two years ago), and this step shows she is serious about keeping her word.

It is also a good, solid move toward laying the groundwork for economic growth in Mount Airy.

Winston-Salem is a bit of a drive, probably 40 minutes or so, thus some might question the value of such a partnership. And any new industry locating in Winston-Salem or the surrounding Forsyth County would do nothing to increase the tax base of Mount Airy.

But, Cochran and Brown are taking a bigger picture view with their efforts. Even if an industry locates a few miles down the road, that could mean jobs for city residents. Jobs mean more money flowing into the pockets of city residents, more families able to support themselves and, presumably, more sales tax money for Mount Airy as that money trickles into the city.

In today’s competitive market anything a locality can do to bring new business is a plus, even if that new business is outside its borders. Just as a growing partnership with Surry County officials is good for both the county and the city, a partnership with Winston-Salem would be good for Mount Airy.

Winston is a large city, with its own large airport, and a higher profile among state officials who work to bring new business to North Carolina. Being part of a regional partnership with the city means, indirectly, a higher profile for Mount Airy, and a greater likelihood of success in landing new business.

The partnership is not a one-way street, either. Winston-Salem would be positioned to offer new businesses a locality — Mount Airy — with a ready water supply, ready buildings for industries to occupy, and room for more building and development.

Both cities would win with such an alliance, and we believe pursuing the partnership is certainly a worthwhile endeavor.