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The weather did not completely cooperate, but the storms that came through the Tri-State Area Wednesday afternoon and evening were not enough to dampen the spirits of members of the Jefferson County and Follansbee chambers of commerce who participated in the Cruising for Connections event.
"I'm really happy with the number of people we attracted -- it was sold out," Kate Sedgmer, president of the Jefferson County chamber, said while standing on the second deck of the Gateway Clipper Fleet's Princess as it made its way south on the Ohio River. "I was a little bummed about the weather, but I think it gave people a fun thing to do this evening, despite the rain."
A joint effort of the chambers, the evening was designed to offer a chance for networking and the opportunity to see the area between the Steubenville Marina and Brilliant from the river. That included a good look at the Wellsburg-Brilliant bridge, which came into view shortly before heavy rains and lightning forced the passengers to head from the observation decks and back inside.
"I think the bridge is going to have a huge economic impact," said Eric Fithyan, president of the Follansbee chamber. "Not just to move traffic, but for safety and security. If something were to happen to the Veterans Memorial Bridge, we'd be able to utilize the new Wellsburg bridge."
Discussed for many decades, the $131 million bridge will connect West Virginia State Route 2 near Wellsburg with Ohio State Route 7 in Brilliant. Construction began four years ago, and the bridge had been scheduled to open last fall. If all goes as planned, traffic will be moving across its deck sometime in the very near future.
That made the structure a central part of the evening.
"This is a partnership between the chambers," Sedgmer said. "We are bridging the gap between our communities. I think it's important, because we share so many of the same members. It's a chance for members of the business community to get to know each other better than they already do."
Fithyan shared that sentiment.
"We did this as a collaboration," he said. "It's a way to really change things up in the chamber and to network with businesses with the new bridge coming in and really show the link between Follansbee and Jefferson County."
About 200 people participated in the evening, which was sponsored by Trinity Health System and Eastern Gateway Community College and included music from the Hoard and Jones Band.
"I'm ecstatic with the turnout," Fithyan explained. "It sold out two or three weeks before the event. It's definitely amazing how the Ohio Valley came together on both sides of the river."
Sedgmer and Fithyan said that Wednesday evening's cruise was just another example of the power of working together -- and both are looking forward to more joint events in the future.
"We would love to be able to do this again -- absolutely," Sedgmer explained. "I think it's important any time we can bring fun and unique things to the area and let people know that there are cool things going on around us and that they don't have to leave the area. I would like to see something different next year -- and not necessarily do the same thing every year."
"Oh yes -- I think the collaboration definitely will continue," Fithyan added. "One of the words I have used was a co-op --of working together. With our chamber being a grassroots chamber, being all volunteer, and Jefferson County having some paid employees, it really takes two different chambers of commerce working together.
"In Follansbee, we don't have a ton of brick-and-mortars, but we have people who want to do business in Follansbee," he added. "This is definitely something we will continue. This boat is just the start of the celebration of how the Ohio Valley is different, and working regionally is going to connect us better."
Sedgmer said the evening offered a chance for the participants to relax and enjoy the company of one another.
"It's really fun to be able to go down to the new Wellsburg bridge and check that out," she said.
"That's been a long time coming, and I think it's only going to continue to strengthen the business communities on both sides of the river."
(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times.)