Vidalia native Heather Malone will not have to learn the streets when she moves to Concordia Parish next month for her new job.

And she will likely already know some of the people with whom she’ll be working.

But we hope Malone’s early job duties include a meeting of the minds.

Malone is the new director of economic development for the Concordia Economic and Industrial Development District.

She fills a position that’s been vacant for months.

And she comes with experience. Currently she works as the director of marketing and membership for the Low Country Economic Network in Beaufort, County, S.C.

Whether it is the Low Country or the Miss-Lou, teamwork is an essential part of economic development.

Malone should quickly arrange to sit down with Adams County Economic Development Director Jeff Rowell and catch up on the area. Obviously the two will primarily work for their respective county or parish, but they also work for the Miss-Lou.

We must market the area as a whole if we want to succeed, and having an economic development director in each location is a great start to great things.

Malone would do well not only to meet all the Concordia Parish officials quickly, but those in Natchez and Adams County as well.

Together, the two communities have a bridge into the future.