GAINESVILLE, Tex. ―There is a lot going on in Cooke County these days, with a multi-million dollar courthouse renovation and a thriving local economy. Rashi Vats has more.

Cooke County Judge Bill Freeman says the county received an “AA” rating for their economy and gave an update on the remodeling of the county courthouse.

At the county commissioners’ meeting Monday, officials approved building specifications for the annex building, which will temporarily house some offices that were in the courthouse before the construction begins. Other offices are currently still moving to other locations.

Standards & Poors, a rating firm in New York, gave Cooke County's government an exemplary rating of “AA.”

Judge Freeman says this will help bond ratings for the county.

“There’s been a lot of construction going on in the county. I believe the county has taken giant strides forward in the last few years, and hopefully we'll get all our projects completed before long and move back and be ready for 100 year long celebration,” Freeman said.

The Cooke County Courthouse first opened in 1911. Construction is scheduled to begin in March and to be completed in 2010.