craigdailypress.com

A project that has had support in several segments of the community for years came to a close - some would say, finally - last week when the Craig Chamber of Commerce board unanimously agreed to quash a proposed expansion of the Moffat County Visitor Center.

The project would have entailed housing three of Craig's key community groups - the Chamber, Moffat County Tourism Association and Craig/Moffat Economic Development Partnership - under the same roof for the first time.

Time will tell whether the Chamber board was proactive, headed off trouble down the line and made the right decision to end the project early, or acted with an itchy trigger finger and nipped something potentially beneficial to our area before giving it a chance.

What is known is this: the project is dead, and now, after it has become obvious that the Chamber, MCTA and EDP aren't going to be roommates anytime soon, it's best to let it stay that way.

There is no point, the Editorial Board believes, in pouring more time and effort into a deal that the three groups can't come to an agreement on. They tried, they failed, and it's time to move on.

Certainly there is a missed opportunity here, but for some reason, the stars didn't line up for this project and the groups could never get on the same page.

Supporters of the Chamber-MCTA-EDP housing arrangement pointed to what logically would result from the groups' co-existence - a working partnership that exists on a greater level than it does today, benefiting economic development in the community.

Most would agree that economic development, be it in the form of aiding existing businesses or luring in others, is vitally important to communities in today's troubling economic climate.

Here's hoping the three groups can do just that, and the Editorial Board is at least optimistic that they can.

And, maybe all is not lost.

Representatives from each of the three community groups said there already exists a strong working relationship between the three.

Perhaps that's true. We'll wait and see on that question, too.

Although they failed, the groups should be commended for listening to the community's wishes and exploring the expansion project.

Now, it's time to let it go.

Given the resources and time that were put into the proposal, and the lack of consensus that resulted from it, it's best to consider the latest action the project's nail in the coffin.