The latest project from Valley Ventures could be just what the Weirton area needs to help get its economy back on a positive path.

The local development organization has announced plans for its new offices and the creation of the Valley Commerce Center at 3300 Main St. That center will include existing businesses and a small business incubator, which officials hope will assist in the creation of other locally owned business.

Valley Ventures has helped people throughout our region start or expand their businesses. A visit to its new location would show our residents many of the operations the group has had some involvement with.

The incubator could be an avenue to help area residents who have considered starting their own business bring their dreams to life. In addition it would help our own local economy.

We know it is difficult to try and start a small business, especially in the current economic conditions. The incubator will provide the opportunity for new businesses to cut back on some initial costs by sharing services such as legal and accounting which they otherwise might have difficulty paying for as they try to get on their feet.

We can no longer rely on large corporations to provide the majority of jobs in our area. Our residents need something now, and a small business incubator, as well as the light industrial incubator planned for 2010, could be just what is needed to help bring in some of those much-needed jobs.

Valley Ventures and Lou Stein, its executive director, should be commended for launching this new effort.