The economic growth of the Cullman area has stirred a lot of excitement.

Every announcement of a new store or an industry expanding has given hope and the anticipation that our area is headed to new heights of livability. As a regional market for shopping, medical care and education, the value of Cullman is on the rise.

While the economy here has a history of performing well, the surge since legalized alcohol sales and the destructive 2011 tornado outbreak has made many people take a closer look at what we have and don’t have in Cullman County. The examination has been a healthy evaluation of the area by people who are deeply rooted to this can-do spirited community.

The Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce is taking a leadership role as a portal for gathering ideas and crunching facts that can lead the community to an even higher plateau of economic sustainability and quality of life. After more than 100 interviews with area residents who represent business, education and just about any walk of life imaginable, a five-year plan — Converging for Success: Together We Can Accomplish Everything — sets a blueprint for addressing key areas that can elevate the community’s fortunes.

The plan is foremost a roadmap, as chamber President and CEO Leah Bolin notes. Recognized in the plan is the need to attract higher-paying professional employment opportunities. The desire for making downtown Cullman and Hanceville more vibrant, with entertainment, loft living and an even wider variety of shops, is also addressed. Creating interest and incentives for greater entrepreneurship is another topic, along with marketing and networking for business leaders, and keeping the community’s best and brightest young people in the area.

Efforts are under way to fund the $1.75 million five-year plan. That’s always the hardest part, but the plan’s authors are local people who have a stake in the community as a place to live, work and securely enjoy an outstanding quality of life with their families. In the days ahead, more discussions about the plan will emerge, followed by action.

Again, Converging for Success is a guide, not a concrete set of rules on how to accomplish everything people want in Cullman County. As steps are made, there will likely be some diversions or detours along the way. That’s OK. There is a spirit of honesty and exploration in the plan.

The community’s awakening to its tremendous potential creates a foundation for innovation and success. The plan deserves consideration because it’s a careful and thoughtful analysis by local residents.

No doubt, moving forward will be a learning process. However, we, along with others, believe the plan holds merit and potential. Where we go from here is a test of the community’s resolve.