There was perhaps some optimism brewing in Ohio at the beginning of the year, as entrepreneurs resolved to take the leap and start their own businesses in the Buckeye State. According to Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office, there were 17,006 new business filings in January, the highest number of January business filings in the state’s history.

“This new state record is a testament to the resilience of Ohio’s job creators and the work we’ve done to support new business growth,” LaRose said.

Goodness, we need a little good news right now, don’t we? And one can see why LaRose’s office would seek to take some credit for the burst of new businesses. The office has streamlined certification for minority, women and veteran-owned businesses and modernized the process for limited liability companies to incorporate. It has kept the cost of a new business filing lower than Ohio’s neighboring states, and processed applications quickly. It has expanded the Ohio Business Resource Connection and worked to keep lines of communication open.

Those are the kinds of things that can encourage new business filings, yes. But the bottom line is nothing happens unless someone has an idea — someone sees a need and thinks they know how to fill it. Nothing happens unless that person has enough faith in themselves, their idea, their community and the workforce to set that idea in motion.

(On the other hand, workers don’t feel compelled to start their own businesses when there are plenty of good-paying jobs to keep food on their tables. But let’s keep things positive.)

It takes a measure of bravery and optimism to start a business — even for the big guys. To know more than 17,000 filers across Ohio felt comfortable taking a step toward joining the Buckeye State economy is encouraging, indeed. We can only hope such momentum continues.