It is like fitting together the pieces of a complex puzzle. When the final piece falls into place, St. Clair County will be assured of a bright future.

That’s what it meant when the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs gave its final OK on building a veterans nursing home in Pell City.

The new, $62.4 million facility is to be state-of-the-art and will provide about 300 jobs and a $15 million payroll.

It joins a new hospital, St. Vincent’s St. Clair, which is expected to begin construction at the same time — early 2010 — on the same site as Jefferson State Community College. The college also is expected to expand its nursing school there, which is yet another piece of the puzzle falling perfectly in place for a better future.

It should be full speed ahead from here, and we continue to commend officials for making all the pieces fit, rounding out the picture of progress for the entire region.