‘Fair-play’ is a smart play

Pirates are out. Fair play is in.

That's the message from Cedar Rapids and Hiawatha officials as they approve a 'fair-play” agreement setting the ground rules for business recruitment between neighboring communities. Cedar Rapids, which already has a similar agreement with Marion, approved its pact with Hiawatha this week. Hiawatha is expected to approve the agreement next week.

Basically, the cities have agreed to not object if, for instance, Hiawatha offers incentives to a Cedar Rapids firm looking for a new location. But under agreement, incentives can be offered only if that business initiates the contact. And the contacted city must inform its neighbor within 14 days.

Actively recruiting businesses - pirating, poaching, or whatever label gets slapped on it - would violate fair-play. The agreements stem from a 2012 state law prohibiting communities from using incentives to lure businesses from elsewhere in Iowa.

We support these pacts. It seems sensible to play well with others when it comes to touchy matters of economic development. Curtailing the temptation to poach and setting up rules for communication are good ideas.

It's also a step toward a more cooperative regional environment, although only a small one. Cities joined at the hip by boundaries crossed daily by thousands of commuters and countless varieties of economic activity are still engaged in a critical struggle to grow separate tax bases. Their residents and money move freely, but city governments are boxed in.

We hope, eventually, that changes. It would be great if local cities didn't have to set ground rules for competition because a new business prospect in any community would benefit all. The movement and expansion of businesses across boundaries wouldn't be a win for one and a loss for others. Cooperation likely would yield more prospects and prosperity in the long term than competition.

But old models die hard, especially ones entrenched in tradition and bolted to political structure resistant to big change. It's going to take considerable creativity and courage from the Statehouse to local city councils. But, eventually, economic reality will push change forward.

There are local leaders who recognize that fact. At least, for now, they're willing to recognize the value of communication and comity. That could make for somewhat smoother sailing amid sea changes over the horizon.

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