Everyone who spoke at this year’s State of the County presentation offered a lot of information about what’s happening in and around the area.

They also provided an optimistic look at the future of Jefferson County and reminders that one of the greatest strengths of the region is the willingness of residents and elected officials to work together.

Despite what you might hear or want to believe, there’s a lot of economic growth happening throughout the region. Wintersville Mayor Mike Petrella, for instance, reminded the 70 or so people who gathered in the auditorium at Indian Creek High School for the Feb. 25 event organized by the Jefferson County commissioners that during the past three years, the village has seen 34 new businesses open.

“Welcome to Wintersville, the land of prosperity in the heart of Jefferson County,” Petrella said. “I say that because it’s true — we’ve accomplished many things here during the past three years.”

When you look around the village and the West End of Steubenville, you will see there’s a lot going on. Work continues on the Starbucks being built in the parking of the Tri-State Plaza. And, now that the city has found a new building inspector, the expectation is that construction soon will begin on the Chipotle restaurant planned for the parking lot in front of Lowe’s.

There’s also the 7 Ranges entertainment center, which has just celebrated its one-year anniversary. A multi-million-dollar private investment by the Ferguson family has transformed the long-vacant Sears store in the Fort Steuben Mall into a place where children and adults can relax while enjoying a meal and an evening out.

It’s also become a popular place for groups to meet and hold special events.

“I think Jefferson County is truly seeing an entrepreneurial spirit right now. If you’re around town and you’re keeping your eyes open, it’s not only Jefferson County, it’s the whole Valley,” explained Joe Luckino, a developer and owner of Cedar One Realty.

“Drive up and down Main Street in Wintersville, and every storefront is full. You go into Steubenville and every storefront is filled — there are very few vacancies. You go to downtown Steubenville and there is a resurgence — there’s entrepreneurship. There are business owners, people who have graduated from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, people who want to invest money into the downtown.”

He added there’s a company looking to invest $12 million to renovate the Huntington Bank building downtown and others who are willing to take chances on other buildings.

“It’s not just downtown,” Luckino said. “It’s happening all over — look if you go up University Boulevard to Franciscan University, Franciscan Square, the ice rink.”

He said the decisions of Starbucks and Chipotle to open stores in Steubenville and the interest Chik-fil-A has in coming to the area shows there’s reason to be positive.

“They want to be here — they want to come to Jefferson County,” Luckino said. “They just need the right space; they need the right piece of land. These people do their homework — they see optimism, they see growth, they see good people and they see work force. I think we need to see that, too, and I know we do. They’re doing their research. They’re coming here, and I’m optimistic about the future of Jefferson County.”

Whether it’s development that is easy to spot — like Franciscan Square, or 7 Ranges, or Starbucks, or Chipotle — or things not so easy to see, businesses are growing in the area, as Gov. Mike DeWine pointed out during his March 12 State of the State address. He mentioned that JSW Steel in Mingo Junction is making improvements to its Mingo Junction facility that will help it retain hundreds of jobs — and create 42 more jobs.

A big driver of all of this growth has been the willingness of people to work together.

“I get asked a lot, what is making us such a success in Wintersville in such a short amount of time,” Petrella said. “One of the biggest things is that we don’t let one individual’s ego get in the way of achieving our goals. We don’t have any individuals who want to use their positions to gain power or another position of control. We have a hard work ethic all of the way from the top to the bottom. We work together to get things done. We believe in what’s working best for the entire village — not just what’s best for one individual.”

Luckino said that spirit of cooperation is important.

“I love that people are working together toward a goal of bringing the county forward,” he explained.

“It’s not just the county; it’s the Ohio Valley. Jefferson County is an integral part of the Valley. We’re centrally located, right on the Ohio River. The county seat is in Steubenville. We need to be a leader for the whole valley and push the valley forward. You see all of the investment coming into town, so there’s a lot of good happening and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Are there issues in our region? Certainly, and they must be addressed. But by working together — and not sitting on the sidelines and offering nothing but criticism — there also are many opportunities.

“I want to remind everyone: Be a solution to a problem — don’t get on the internet and complain. Try to be the solution. Don’t make bigger problems,” Petrella said. “We all have to work together, not just elected officials, but the citizens as well. If everybody is willing to work together, there is nothing we can’t achieve. Work together. Be collaborative together. Be positive, no matter what the situation might be.”

(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times.)