When news broke of the sale of ServiceZone to ClientLogic, emotions ranging from fear and nervousness; to enthusiasm and out and out giddiness.

When we started digging and talked to the officials involved, our fears were allayed and we had a better feeling about the future of the Covington County facility.

Now that a larger, global company has acquired ServiceZone, we feel that things are really going to start looking up for Covington County's growing service industry.

Local ServiceZone officials have even said this is just the beginning of another growth period for the facility.

That's another example of growing what you've already got.

We've all talked about the need for more business. More industry. More jobs. It's just no one has every really said how to get all of those things.

That is, no one who has been working behind the scenes to make it all happen.

You see, growing and recruiting business is a delicate balancing act - similar to walking the tightrope in a circus.

Say the wrong thing or let the wrong thing get out - even if it's a good thing - and the whole deal could turn more sour than two-year-old buttermilk left sitting on the counter.

However, when you work silently and diligently to grow jobs and create new jobs, things happen.

Last year was a great year for Covington County to experience the new growth in existing business.

Before the sale, ServiceZone was experiencing growth. Now, with the sale, ClientLogic is expecting more growth.

We can hope this is a sign of the even greater things to come in 2004. It's early, and this is good news.

Let's take this and hope it sets the standard for greater business things to come.