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With the beginning of every year comes a sense of hope and the feeling that the future ahead of us is at least a little brighter than the past that is behind us.
That's the case as we say farewell to 2023 and welcome 2024.
We see that there are plenty of positive things on the horizon. Construction work continues at the site of Form Energy, the Massachusetts-based company that is looking forward to opening a manufacturing facility that will produce specialty batteries on former Weirton Steel property in Weirton. Projections say the plant will bring in more than 700 jobs and serve as a catalyst for other manufacturers to open facilities on that property and though the region.
Expansion work also is planned at the Jefferson County Industrial Park, and growth is expected to continue at the Beech Bottom Industrial Park.
All of that s good news from our region and communities on both sides of the Ohio River.
That includes downtown Steubenville, where it was announced on Dec. 21 that Ohio Department of Development money in the form of tax credits will help the new owners of the former McCauslen's Florist building, which now houses the Steubenville Grocery Box, develop new commercial space, artist studios and apartments. It's all part of the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program that announced by Gov. Mike DeWine and the development department.
That's not the only major development slated for downtown -- just a few blocks away from that site on North Fourth Street, Steubenville High School will open its STEM complex, which will offer students expanded educational opportunities and create a campus feel at the school.
Construction will continue at the Christ the Teacher Academic Building on the campus of the Franciscan University of Steubenville. When completed, the $50 million, 110,000-square-foot building will be the largest on campus, and will transform the look of the school.
In January, meanwhile, look for the opening of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Study, a 25,000-square-foot building located just above Franciscan Square along University Boulevard.
Three Springs Drive in Weirton will continue to experience growth, as work will be getting underway on the Park Place Development that will expand the availability of housing and provide more opportunities for retail expansion.
A great deal of the development on both sides of the river will be the result of the work done by the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle and the Jefferson County Port Authority.
We expect to learn which area projects will share in the Appalachian Community Grant program, and we likely will learn about what future --if any -- there is for the Market Street Bridge.
When it comes to politics, 2024 is a presidential election year, which brings its own set of issues and concerns, but the local races figure to carry a great deal of interest.
In Jefferson County, for instance, voters will be choosing a replacement for longtime county Commissioner Dave Maple, who has chosen not to seek re-election.
Residents of Weirton will be electing a mayor and every member of council as the city shifts its election cycle to a November vote. No municipal primary will be held in the city.
Local government will have a new look on many levels. Steubenville will see three new members of council: Dave Albaugh in the First Ward, Ted Gorman in the Fifth Ward and Joel Walker as council at large. And in Mingo Junction, Judy Ruckman will become the first woman to serve as mayor of the village.
A large field is gathering to run for the West Virginia U.S. Senate seat that has been held by Democrat Joe Manchin, who has decided not to seek re-election. And in Ohio, several Republicans are looking for a win in the primary and the chance to take on longtime Democrat incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown in the general election. Those two seats could play a significant role in deciding which party will control the Senate.
We will be the first to tell you that our crystal ball has been, well, a little dysfunctional in the past, which means we will not be making any firm predictions about what you can expect during the next 366 days. That said, we can safely say there will be twists and turns along the way that residents of the Tri-State Area will be talking about for years to come.
Everything points to 2024 as being an interesting year.
We hope it's a good one for all of us.