There’s something new under the sun in Rowan County, a sense of collaboration between the city and the county, as well as several key institutions. It’s the best economic development strategy the community has adopted in decades: cooperation.

Could this be the year Rowan enjoys an economic boom? Let’s make 2016 the long-awaited turning point.

About this spirit of cooperation — it’s been developing for at least a year, ever since the 2014 election shifted the county commission from contrary to collaborative. That’s long enough ago to convince skeptics the new tone is sincere. Under the leadership of Chairman Greg Edds, the board has tackled big projects with an eye to building a better economy and quality of life for Rowan County. Calls for others to “get out of the way” have faded into history. The real test will be ensuring the county water and sewer initiative is a win-win development that boosts development without disrupting the city’s Salisbury-Rowan Utilities.

New Salisbury Mayor Karen Alexander, like Paul Woodson before her, is likely to cultivate a good working relationship with county officials. Together, she and Edds will represent the community well. To reap real benefits for city and county, this partnership has to go beyond nice talk to concrete action. There are lots of quality of life issues city and county leaders could consider — tobacco-free public spaces, more bike trails and lanes, new parks and amenities. Education must be at the top of the list, though. The community has to find the resources to reach more children in their pivotal preschool years and lay the foundation for literacy. That push has to proceed all the way through high school, college and other training opportunities.

If Rowan is to boom — and bloom — it needs solid infrastructure, a well-educated workforce, plentiful resources and a business-friendly approach. The city and county made progress over the past year and seem unified in their approach as 2016 begins. Rowan has hired a firm to help develop a new brand, but this will be much more than a slogan for the county. It’s the development of a new mindset and a commitment to a common purpose — again, something new under the sun for Rowan County and Salisbury.