Throughout history, our nation’s most successful businesses — both large and small — have found a way to persevere and even prosper during a variety of economic climates.

That same tenacity and vision has helped Bob Clyse’s Chevrolet Buick GMC weather the recent economic downturn, one that has hit car dealers particularly hard, and even find a way to grow.

Clyse is positioned to have an historic 2012 as he opens the doors on a new state-of-the-art service center and showroom across the street from his longtime Ironton location.

In addition to adding significant lot and facility space, the family-owned car dealership acquired the Chevrolet license two years ago.

None of this would be possible if Clyse was not willing to make a significant investment in our community as well as taking somewhat of a gamble on the idea that years of customer service and good products will pay off with community support.

That approach is at the heart of what it will take for our economy — locally and nationally — to turn around.

Business owners have to be given the tools and support to make this level of commitment. But they also have to be committed to the community and so entrenched that they can be successful.

Bob Clyse has done that through his many years of business and community service. These new changes bode well for many more years to come.