Two articles in last weekend’s edition of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette deserve a moment of our editorial board’s reflection.

The Genetti Hotel, a landmark of Williamsport’s downtown, is undergoing renovations. Elsewhere recently, the U.S. Small Business Administration presented local business CSSI Inc. an annual award. Numerous civic and political leaders spoke at the award reception about the absolutely vital impact small businesses have on our communities and our nation.

Businesses, large and small, create the jobs that support our region’s families and offer the goods and services we as consumers want. Without businesses — or without the conditions necessary for businesses to thrive — men and women will take their talents, their futures, their lives and families elsewhere, to communities where they can pursue the opportunities to support themselves and their families.

The degree to which the future of our communities is tied to the successes of our businesses is a large part of why we’ve for years advocated for reason and nuance in the regulatory environment and tax policies to which these economic engines are subjected.

While history has taught us the importance of oversight and safeguards, we need to ensure the oversight isn’t a burden and the safeguards are practical — that the measures and efforts accomplish greater safety and sustainability for workers, consumers and the public while still allowing the leadership and contributions of business owners to create the opportunities we all recognize our towns and neighborhoods need.

We hope the Genetti Hotel and CSSI Inc. have many more successful years ahead. We hope as many businesses as possible can succeed in our communities’ futures — because their successes will afford our family and friends and neighbors their best chance at chasing their own opportunities and successes.