At Friday's ground breaking ceremonies for the new Hampton Inn, Mayor Jimmy Lunsford observed that teamwork was an essential component of growth.

In the framework of landing development projects, that is certainly the case. Without the cooperation of elected officials, economic development professionals, corporate developers and, ultimately, the public, growth does not take place.

We welcome the Hotel Group to Troy and wish Troy Plaza Shopping Center the best of luck in its future growth.

However, the saga doesn't end with a ground breaking ceremony or a ribbon cutting. The story of growth for our county is on-going as long as we have committed officials and a committed public that will support the growth.

When communities fail to grow, they stagnate. Maintaining that status quo kills communities in the long run because they loose their competitive edge that is so vitally important to winning both industrial and retail projects.

Troy and Pike County is progressive in this regard, and the teamwork demonstrated by all concerned for the continued growth of our community is evident.

Together we can continue our record of success.