Putting your money where your mouth is can be difficult sometimes. But it’s also the ultimate sign of commitment.

Nothing makes you pay attention as much as knowing that you have money on the line.

By that measure, the local business community appears to be fully and totally committed to the area’s economic growth.

With a goal of raising $115,000 in private sector funding to help goose the area’s revived economic development agency, a volunteer group has already surpassed that level.

But while the money is important to help market the area better, the real need will be for the business leaders to bring their brains to the table.

For our community to truly embrace a revived economic development, we must realize that successful communities work together — public and private.

Getting the private funding in place should send a powerful message to the city and county’s elected leaders.

The message is that our area’s business community is interested, focused and engaged on getting serious about economic development.

Our community appears to have our mouths and our money in place. Next we need to get serious and get our butts in gear and our feet moving on making the money an effective investment in our future.