As we turn the pages of the newspaper’s annual progress edition, Update 2010, it reminds us of how the region has moved forward over the past year.

Despite a devastating economic recession and joblessness in double digits, there is plenty of good news to report, and it is found in section after section of Update 2010, which was part of Sunday’s paper.

Yes, there were plenty of cutbacks and belt tightening measures, but ribbon cuttings on news businesses and plans being made for the future gave reason for hope.

In Lincoln, revitalization is taking center stage downtown. Honda continues to change the face of the region for the better. And home grown companies continue to thrive.

New industries are making an impact. Technology is driving advances in business communities, in government and in education.

A new hospital is on the horizon in Pell City. Citizens BMC in Talladega and Coosa Valley Medical Center continue to grow, expand and better serve the healthcare needs of their communities.

The area’s four school systems are examples of overcoming challenges in a down economy, ensuring that students and communities are well served with their programs. And the presence of Central Alabama Community College, Jefferson State Community College and Talladega College have enhanced the post-secondary offerings found close to home.

In Update 2010, readers met friends and neighbors who are making a difference in their communities — the people who reason, ‘what if,’ and turn the question into better places to live, work and raise a family.

The chambers of commerce, working together and working solo, have positively influenced the direction their communities are heading. And new and expanded businesses are calling the region home while existing business is building a stronger foundation for the future.

They are the stories unfolding across Talladega and St. Clair counties, and they underscore the notion that good news has happened over the past year, and better days are yet to come.

They are stories that give cause for celebration of this area we all call home, and the newspaper is proud to provide a reminder that despite the hurdles, the area as a whole has moved toward a better future.