One of the more interesting points to come out of this past week’s Economic Outlook Conference in Wheeling was this: Ohio County has the highest per-capita income in West Virginia.

This information, shared by businessman David H. McKinley and based on economic data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, is a strong indicator of the county’s overall economic health. It is a good reminder that our region has many of the pieces necessary for growth and just needs that spark to unlock its true potential.

“And the reality is 2025-26 looks even better than 2024-25,” McKinley said. “Although the economy appears to be growing slower than it had been, profitability appears to be rising. Things look pretty darn attractive, and it is going to get better.”

Part of that spark must be new housing and a real plan for this county’s future. Without that — as we’ve seen for decades — it’s likely that we’ll continue to let this area’s potential go unreached.