— One of the real challenges in attempting to bring economic development to our region is harnessing all of the great ideas and getting those diverse efforts pushing toward a common vision.

That’s why we’re excited about the new Lift Johnstown program, which is bringing together three area initiatives and working toward meeting shared goals by having a joint strategy.

As we hope you’ve read in today’s Progress section – the first in a two-week business series – leaders from the city, the 20/20 Regional Plan and the Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Initiative have banded together to merge their research and energy into a broader program aimed at improving the region’s economic climate.

The Johnstown Regional Partnership and the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies are also involved.

The 20/20 plan is a joint effort of the Greater Johns-town/Cambria County Chamber of Commerce and the Young Professionals of the Alleghenies.

All of these groups have slightly different focuses.

But they have a shared goal: Lifting Johnstown in a way that fills storefronts, creates jobs and opportunities, and makes for a brighter future.

We think more groups need to get on board. These folks should be joined by representatives of more local business-development agencies, downtown business groups and folks from the education sector in making this a true regional effort.

Anyone who lives, works, studies or pursues recreational activities in our area has a stake in this project.

“Lift Johnstown is inviting the general public to join us in linking arms to work collaboratively to create a sustainable economic future for our region,” said Mike Kane, executive director of the community foundation. Kane is a member of the Lift Johns-town steering committee.

“It’s meant to include more than our partners to date,” he said.

“We invite everyone to help lift Johnstown.”

That’s the only way things will get done.

Johnstown is a community that has been long on great ideas but short on tangible results.

Community forums, polls and studies too often generate early energy without producing long-term momentum.

When that happens, great ideas wither instead of bearing fruit.

At times, we’ve worked in silos, unwilling to reach outside our own groups and programs to link with others that just might have something valuable to contribute.

Lift Johnstown should bring together government and private interests, professionals who have been on the job for many years and those just getting started.

And Lift Johnstown should be just the beginning.

An organized and sustained effort could lift the entire region, bringing positive results to the communities across Cambria and Somerset counties.

The region could be reeling from the February death of U.S. Rep. John Murtha.

Instead, we seem to be pulling together and making the commitment to march forward.

Such a movement would have made the congressman proud.

Each year at this time, The Tribune-Democrat publishes its Progress edition.

The section is always filled with stories of great ideas and people stepping forward to become leaders in our community.

But in the months to follow, measurable progress is often elusive, with many of the same challenges still dogging Johnstown and the area around the city.

But this year, we sense a shift in the winds.

Perhaps we’re ready to join together and reach higher.

Let’s make 2010 a year of meaningful and lasting progress.