As those who live in the River Cities region look to the future, we hope it is with eyes wide open to the tremendous potential that the region holds.

We’ve mentioned the Nucor plant in Mason County. It’s exciting to imagine the impact 800-1,000 jobs will have on the region.

Last week, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito visited Mason County and shared her thoughts on what that plant will mean.

“Nucor’s future presence in West Virginia is welcome news and will have a major impact on our state’s economy,” Capito said. “I enjoyed the opportunity today to not only see the future site of Nucor, but also meet with members of the leadership team to discuss the impact this development will have in the region.

“As I’ve said before, I’m incredibly proud of this announcement for a number of reasons, but primarily because it shows what we can achieve when we work together at the federal, state, and local levels for solid, long-term successes.”

Also on hand for the tour of the site was Marshall University President Brad D. Smith, who has given generously of his time, talents and wealth to stoke development in the Mountain State and along the Ohio River.

Smith is the part of what’s become West Virginia’s and the region’s “dream team” of development, joining with Gov. Jim Justice, Economic Development Secretary Mitch Carmichael and Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby to champion the Mountain State.

Later, Smith was the featured speaker at the Mason County Chamber of Commerce, where he gave what Chamber Executive Director Hilda Austin told us was a dynamic speech with a vision of the region’s potential.

Following his presentation, the Chamber presented its annual awards to well-deserving businesses, individuals and organizations, honoring the success they enjoyed as well as their contributions to the region.

Of course, on the Ohio side of the river there is that similar potential as well as effort beginning to take place.

We’ve written briefly of Gov. Mike DeWine’s championing of a $500 million investment into the Eastern Ohio counties that are part of Appalachia. Meigs and Gallia are a part of the region.

“The state of Ohio is not all about Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland,” DeWine said. “They’re very important, but it’s also about the Meigs counties, the Lawrence counties. It’s about the Washington counties. It’s about, you know, the smaller communities where so many Ohioans live, so many Ohioans work,” DeWine said of the investment.

With that kind of funding available, we know local and regional leaders in Meigs and Gallia counties will be working with their state representatives and officials to find ways to spur further economic growth.

And coupled with what’s happening on the Mountain State side of the river, the potential is there for something special.

Now is the time to set parochialism aside and grow the region back to its long-ago strength. The time is here and now to move the region forward.