We hope the Adams County Board of Supervisors and Concordia Parish Police Jury members are fans of The Beatles.

Actually, we just want them to appreciate one particular song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and recorded by The Beatles in 1967 — “With a Little Help from My Friends.”

Having good quality friends isn’t just important for bragging rights in social media circles, it’s massively important in business and economic development, too.

Looking around at successful communities, many of them share one thing in common — they work well with their neighbors.

The new Toyota plant near Tupelo wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for cooperation among approximately 10 different city, county, development and planning district groups.

By working together toward a common goal the group managed to create and successfully market a 1,700-acre site for development.

They’ve provided a wonderful example for our community’s own regionalism efforts.

Most every one supports regionalism as long as they view it as not harming their own plans or costing them any of their own money.

The Miss-Lou Regionalism Steering Committee recently announced plans to seek financial support from Adams County and Concordia Parish to develop a regional marketing plan for the community. Given the size and scope of what’s being sought, the requested funds are fairly meager — approximately $30,000 total, $15,000 from each side of the river.

Marketing our area as a region can do nothing but good. The Miss-Lou is a family. The river only separates us on the map. In our heads and hearts, we know we’re one. We can not only “get by” with our friends, we can soar.