Instead of planning for a recovery from bad news, Aroostook County can celebrate growth.

On Thursday, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission reversed a Department of Defense recommendation to close the Defense Finance Accounting Center in Limestone and decided instead to nearly double the number of jobs there to no fewer than 600.

After the roller coaster of Wednesday when the state learned that Portsmouth Naval Shipyard would stay open but that Brunswick Naval Air Station would be closed, the good news Thursday was welcomed.

“Without question, this was the best decision possible,” said state Rep. Jeremy Fischer in a news release. “Our workforce here in Aroostook County is second to none, and I am certain the BRAC Commission clearly recognized this.”

Sen. Olympia Snowe echoed the feelings: “This is a tremendous victory and one of the brightest days in recent memory for the people of Aroostook County, who have contributed so much to our nation, and suffered so greatly from the base closure process in the past – and I commend the commission on its decision. This is a rightful affirmation of the exceptional and extraordinary work of the men and women of DFAS Limestone.”

Given the prospects of losing all three facilities, the fact that two were saved is certainly good news. And for the Brunswick area, which lost out, the fact that the Limestone facility will remain open means that all the state’s base recovery efforts can be directed there.

The whole state benefits by the decision to expand the Limestone operation.