When it comes to offering up success stories for businesses growing in southern Ohio, look no farther then Liebert Corporation’s Ironton facility.

This plant, which employs several hundred people, is telling proof that businesses can thrive and grow here in our region. Owned by Emerson Power, Liebert’s Ironton plant continues to excel and moved a step closer to adding as many as 120 jobs.

This is evidence that southern Ohio has a good labor force with strong work ethic and immense trainable potential.

We applaud Emerson in Liebert for the continued commitment to Lawrence County and southern Ohio.

We are also thankful for the economic development leaders who helped put this deal together more than a decade ago when Cabletron unceremoniously pulled out of the city. Combined with other manufacturing closures and job losses, this was a dark time for Ironton.

And now, even despite a difficult economy, things are looking much brighter and the region could be on the verge of serious growth.

We hope local and state economic development officials will showcase Liebert to other potential developers to provide a blueprint for prosperity and success.

Success for individual businesses ultimately translates into success for Lawrence County.