When you pick up Thursday’s edition and look through the pages of this year’s Progress Edition, you’ll find some comments that speak volumes about the direction our area is headed in.

“I see a lot of new opportunities, a lot of new jobs being added and a lot of new talent coming into the Ohio Valley,” according to Jason Keeney, executive director of development for the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle.

There’s plenty of reason for that optimism, and that stems from projects that include the ongoing work at the Form Energy battery plant being built in the northern part of Weirton, to the Pure Watercraft electric boat manufacturing facility that’s going into the Beech Bottom Industrial Park to continued development along Three Springs Drive in Weirton.

Activity is happening all around the region, including at the JSW Steel operation in Mingo Junction. An expanded railyard and upgraded equipment should help the facility continue to produce quality steel. Helping to make sure that project, and others in the area — including the construction of a new spec building in the Jefferson County Industrial Park — move forward is the Jefferson County Port Authority.

Its executive director, Robert Naylor, is excited about the potential offered by one of the region’s biggest assets — the Ohio River.

“We want to support economic activity on the river not only within Jefferson County but in the region, to recognize the Ohio River as having a positive impact on Ohio maritime strategy and to show the benefits that transporting goods on the river can have for the state of Ohio, our county and our region,” Naylor explains.

This year’s annual comprehensive examination of the Tri-State Area will be delivered in five installments, beginning Thursday, when the focus will be on economic outlook and energy. Sunday’s edition will focus on community, retail and financial services. On Feb. 11, the focus will shift to tourism and lifestyles. Feb. 18 features an examination of health and education and Feb. 25 will include a look at business, industry and transportation.

You’ll also find profiles of the family-owned businesses that make our communities strong and provide goods and services with a local touch.

There’s reason for optimism about the future, as you will find by reading the stories in any one of the five sections. But at the end of February, when you are able to take a collective look at all five sections, you’ll have an even clearer picture that our region remains a strong, vibrant place in which to live, work, do business and raise families.

The stories carry a positive message, one that speaks well about the future and one we are happy to share.