We believe a column by Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jason Fink should be a source of optimism for our region.

The column, published in the Chamber Connection, a publication on which the Sun-Gazette and Chamber of Commerce partner, last week reviews 2025. Among the highlights it notes: New restaurants and retailers who came to Lycoming County in 2025 or announced plans to come, new manufacturing facilities on their way or expanding, the successes of a drum corps competition and the woek underway for the Lumber Yards baseball/softball complex.

As the Sun-Gazette has repeatedly noted, our region needs jobs and economic development. And the highlights listed by Mr. Fink — Chance Aluminum’s plans for an aluminum processing plant near the Lycoming-Union county line, Farm Plast’s plans for a manufacturing facility in Muncy, Verne’s plans for a plant to manufacture hydrogen storage and transportation equipment, new Chick fil-As and Wawas and the plans for a Bass Pro Shop in Muncy Township — will create jobs that meet the needs of a diverse selection of employees or potential employees. The development of tourism — whether its drum corps events or field traveling tournaments will use — will further diversify our opportunities for employment.

That diversity is important: There will never be a one-size-fits-all industry or sector that meets the needs and talents of all of our working men and women. Furthermore, a singular focus on one industry would leave our region at too great a risk of strain when that industry is confronted by a downturn.

By no means was 2025 a perfect year for our region’s economy — the need for more housing places economic pressures on working families, for one. But there were still many moments and developments that are promising for the future of Lycoming County and surrounding communities.

We hope our leaders are able to build on those successes in 2026.