The full terms of the deal will not be known for a few weeks, but what is known about the sale of the spec building at the Ceres Industrial Park is worthy of celebration. What comes later will serve as icing on the cake.

After more than two decades, the building, which was built as an empty shell just waiting for someone to own it, love it and call it their own, cost approximately $1 million to build in 1995.

Regardless of how much the building sold for, the fact the building is no longer on the list of county’s assets and moving to the county’s property tax rolls is a large step in the right direction.

What this transaction also shows is the work by the county’s economic development team is paying off.

In recent years, not only have we welcomed new businesses and industries to town, offering our residents workforce opportunities, but the time and money spent on the Ceres Industrial Park is also paying off.

The flurry of activity at the shooting range that will soon provide a venue for crucial training to local governmental agencies, and the economic impact of the Love’s Travel Stop, currently under construction, has brought renewed enthusiasm.

The work by the economic development team led by Partnership President and CEO Pablo Diaz to enhance the park’s standing among state economic recruiters is time and money well spent.

Tuesday’s announcement of the sale of the spec building is great news, but what is even better is knowing that after 24 years of sitting idle, what was once a reflection of lackluster economic development efforts has now turned into a symbol of what strong, unified and committed economic development leadership can do.