Establishing mutually beneficial work-force programs with its neighbors should be a primary economic focus for Forsyth County, officials with AngelouEconomics, a consulting group, said yesterday.

The officials presented the group's first research update since it began an eight-month study of Northwest North Carolina in February. The counties involved are Alleghany, Ashe, Davie, Forsyth, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin.

The research clearly shows the interdependency of most of the counties on Forsyth as an employment hub, said Sean Garretson, a project manager with AngelouEconomics.

According to 2000 U.S. Census Bureau data, 30 percent of Forsyth's work force, or nearly 51,000 people, commuted into the county for their jobs. Forsyth drew more than 10,000 workers each from Davidson and Stokes.

By comparison, 19 percent of Forsyth residents, or 28,605 workers, left the county for work.

"Interdependent work-force development will be at the crux of future economic successes for this region," Garretson said.

The common denominator of the commuters going to Forsyth was the pursuit of professional jobs that are lacking in neighboring counties, said Chris Engle, a senior analyst with the firm.

"Forsyth's challenge is creating jobs not only for its own residents, but also for those living in more economically distressed counties," Engle said. "The same holds true with educational and job-retraining efforts at the community-college level."

Garretson said that cooperation and communication among economic developers is crucial if the region wants to avoid an every-county-for-itself mentality.

"If the cooperation level isn't what it should be, it's possible that economic developers in neighboring counties to Forsyth may decide to focus on recruiting those industries that their residents are commuting to," Garretson said.

"They may be able to offer them better access to the majority of their work force, and cheaper land and taxes, too."

Matthew Dolge, the executive director of the Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments, agreed that cooperation in economic development is crucial for the region.

"The cluster development of key industries, such as biotechnology, information technology and life sciences, in Forsyth can benefit the region as a whole," Dolge said.

"Not only would it create more higher-paying jobs for the region's workers, but also encourage spinoff opportunities for neighboring counties for companies that need a lower cost of doing business."

Engle said that another critical issue facing the region is how to allocate limited economic resources between homegrown entrepreneurial efforts and relocating businesses.

"Most growing communities find a way to assist both efforts because typically entrepreneurial groups are more likely to form lasting roots in a community," Engle said. "Yet the rewards from hitting a relocation home run are so enticing."

The firm was hired last year by the Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments and the Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce to survey the region through September. The full survey, which will be released in October, will cost $250,000 in federal grant money and matching local money.

• Richard Craver can be reached at 727-7376 or at rcraver@wsjournal.com