Just below the Mighty Mississippi and the collection of historic structures for which our community is known, Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Natchez campus certainly tops a list of community assets.

We’ve often referred to Co-Lin Natchez as one of the jewels in our area. That jewel is about to get a little brighter. Another beautiful stone will soon grace the campus jewelry collection — a $4.2 million health and science building.

The new building, which should be completed as soon as next week, should be a huge boost for both Co-Lin and eventually our area’s economy as a whole.

Community colleges across Mississippi fill a vital role in our education and work training system.

They are among the most nimble of our state’s higher education avenues.

Locally, Co-Lin — in conjunction with Alcorn State University — provides our area with huge educational and economic resources.

The addition of Co-Lin’s health and science building will only add to the toolkit our area can offer to prospective students as well as businesses that seek job training opportunities.

We’re thrilled to see the new construction at Co-Lin and congratulate the school on its latest progress.