Jefferson County has much of which to be proud.

Sit and think for a moment, and you will find a list of things that come to mind about what's nice about living and working in Jefferson County.

It's that spirit that Progress Alliance is trying to raise during Tuesday's Best of Jefferson County dinner, an event Ed Looman, executive director of Progress Alliance, wants to make an annual happening.

He's seen what such an event can do when he worked with an economic development organization in Ashtabula County.

The concept is a simple one. The natives can get restless and not see or think about what works well in their communities. Jefferson County is not any more negative than anyplace else in that respect. It's sort of an extension to the community the theory that you can choose your friends but you're stuck with your relatives. Thus, sometimes, we're nicer to friends than relatives.

People do the same thing with communities in which they live.

The negativity can spread and become poisonous to the area's ability to turn itself around.

Looman tells a story about a deal falling through in Ashtabula at the last minute when the investors heard people badmouthing their community over a cup of coffee in a restaurant. The investors figured if the people were so down on their area, it wasn't the kind of place for new business to find success.

Jefferson County has to avoid doing that.

Negativity is poisonous, but a positive attitude is infectious. It's like receiving a smile in return for offering one.

In celebrating what's the best in Jefferson County, Progress Alliance aims to raise visibility about the county, about itself and the work being done to improve life in the county, and about those who actually are making life worth living around here - businesses and individuals whose time, talent and treasure are invested in employing others, in helping others, in showing the world that we've got something here that isn't found elsewhere.

Think about it. Jefferson County has people who care about one another at a level that isn't found in many places anymore. Someone in need always knows there's a friend somewhere in Jefferson County to offer a hand.

Workers want jobs desperately, and they'll work hard. They'll be educated at fine institutions locally, too, including Jefferson Community College and Franciscan University of Steubenville. If they get sick, top-notch medical care is found at Trinity Medical Center, which is building on the success of the Tony Teramana Cancer Center in trying to be sure patients know they can stay local for cutting-edge treatment.

There are countless efforts made every day by our work force, by our residents, to make the community remain strong.

There is an ethic here that still places community ahead of self for many people.

Be Jefferson County Proud is the Progress Alliance campaign that's been kicked off and figures prominently into Tuesday evening's Best of the County event. It asks only that each resident consider, really think about the question, "What's good about Jefferson County."

The answers are many.

If you're a glass-is-half-empty person, start considering what the other half of the glass is full of.

You might be surprised at how it improves your outlook.

And you might be surprised at how much it improves Jefferson County's ability to be attractive to investors who want only to be in a place where positive things and growth are honored and appreciated.