Towns either grow or they die. Just like anything else in the world, there is no middle ground.

As Rickey Hayes of Retail Attractions, Inc., said recently, "Paris has the potential to be the city on the hill."

The Paris Economic Development Corp. has a mission to grow and retain business and industry. Rather than doing business as usual, this group has spent the past few months gathering data, opinions, directions and strategies from more than 200 people who live, work and maintain residences and businesses in the area.

It's all in the name of a strategic plan, a "vision of the future - far in the future," according to Steve Gilbert, PEDC executive director. To get there, Gilbert and the PEDC board chose this method to get input and, more importantly, buy-in from the people.

"This is a very important process we're at the start of, and we can now begin making progress on those big issues," Gilbert said, following the most recent strategic planning meeting with almost 100 people in attendance.

Those big issues? Gilbert's surveys show the overriding concern of citizens in the area are jobs and the economy. On the plus side are five major strengths: Water, low cost of living, a thriving medical community, low cost of land and our educational institutions.

The plan was to put the issues on the table, invite interaction and collaboration from a wide knowledge base, get everyone on board, then put it in gear and move forward.

With Gilbert at the helm, along with a board that is bullish on Paris and its future, the backing of the local government, business people and residents, we have a good start on an effective and prudent plan to grow this town and make it a force to be reckoned with.

Gilbert expects to begin seeing results from this strategic plan within 12 to 16 months.

In his position on PEDC, Gilbert said, "We'll move this forward and keep our foot on the gas."

And the rest of the citizens of Paris? Well, that's up to us. Thanks to some people with both vision and drive, all of the pieces and players are there before us. We can either provide the fuel that feeds the progress, or let our dis-interested lethargy be the drag that slows it down - and eventually sends it tumbling down the wrong side of the growth curve.