It is one of the most encouraging signs of progressive thinking we have seen from town leaders in some time.

Economic development — be it residential, commercial or industrial recruiting — is key to a community’s success.

Riddled with a high tax rate and small returns on those taxes, the town of Wendell doesn’t have the resources some other communities can put into economic development.

But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be a priority.

Working with the leadership of the Wendell Chamber of Commerce, the Town Commissioners approved a plan to hire an economic developer in the next budget year if the costs can be worked out.

In recent years, economic development has largely been the province of a joint committee made up of chamber leaders, town commissioners and members of the Planning Board. Most of the real work has fallen to Planning Director Teresa Piner.

But it has clearly been a part-time focus for everyone involved.

And economic development is no part-time job.

Piner, to her credit, has worked to develop plans for a business park that, if landowners will go for it, would give the town a nice location for new offices and light industrial concerns.

But having the land picked out is only part of the battle. Someone has to seek out and recruit businesses to the area. And Piner already has a full-time job.

As Wendell seeks to diversify its tax base and increase the return on its tax rate, a good, full-time economic developer is crucial in that effort.

Town commissioners still have the opportunity to back out of the deal if they can’t justify spending the money.

We hope they won’t do that. By sending a message to the town staff that economic development is a priority, they should get a budget recommendation that allows for such an expense.

And all of Wendell will be rewarded for that kind of forward thinking.